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'File 61/11 IX (D 159) Nejd-Hejaz Miscellaneous' [58r] (126/391)
The record is made up of 1 volume (192 folios). It was created in 4 Apr 1939-16 Jan 1942. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
this document is the property of his britannic majesty's government
EASTERN (A rabia).
BUSHiRE R ESIDENCY-
November 21, 1939.
Section 2.
[E 7604/549/25]
Copy No. |
Sir R. Bullard to Viscount Halifax.—{Received November 21.)
(No. 154.)
My Lord,
Jedda, October 29, 1939.
AS I informed your Lordship in Jedda telegram No. 135, dated the
16th October, Ibn Saud showed great satisfaction at the statement which I made
to him on the lines laid down in Foreign Office telegram No. 140. The statement
was read out in Arabic, and at the request of Sheikh Yusuf Yasin a copy of the
Arabic was given to him. A copy of the English original is attached. I included
the opinion of His Majesty's Government that the letter purporting to have been
written by the Amir Abdullah to Sheikh Kamil-al-Qassab, if genuine, was unwise
and discourteous, but thought it well to keep in reserve the phrase '' and they
will, if necessary, convey their views to the Amir/'
2. The essence of Ibn Saud's reply is given in the second paragraph of my
above-mentioned telegram. The King said emphatically that he did not want
anything—Syria, Palestine,
Transjordan
Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
, Iraq or any other territory—outside
his own dominions, but he feared lest the addition of Syria either to Iraq or
Transjordan
Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
should facilitate Hashimite designs against the Hejaz or even Nejd.
The King compared his own policy (with apologies for comparing small things
with great) with what he conceived to be the policy of His Majesty's Government
in Europe; Great Britain wanted a balance of power in Europe, and he wanted
a balance of power in the Arab world. So long as no Hashimite became ruler
of Syria the Syrians, he said, might choose for themselves what form of govern
ment they wanted—whether to remain under mandate or to have a republic, or
to choose a king from outside. The will of the people ought, after all, to be taken
into consideration. He himself would not wish to retain his kingdom if the
people of Nejd did not wish him to do so. As for Abdullah ("saving your
presence "), but for the support of the British Government he would not be even
Amir of
Transjordan
Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
for another day.
3. My impression that Ibn Saud was pleased with the statement was borne
out by Sheikh Yusuf, who informed me next day that the King had said that
all he wanted was to be secure in his own possessions, and had expressed
satisfaction at the statement I had made to him (" very pleased indeed ' was the
expression used). I see no reason to modify the opinion which I gave in my
telegram No. 140, that so far as Ibn Saud is concerned it would be better not
to add anything to the statement made to Ibn Saud on the 13th October, but to
re-examine the question if either side should continue to push its claims. It
would appear from reports from His Majesty's High Commissioner for Trans
jordan that the Amir Abdullah has given up any hopes of the Syrian throne
that he may have had, while Ibn Saud has renounced any claim to it so long as
it is not given to a Hashimite.
4. A copy of the secret despatch on the subject of the letter to Qassab and
the Bludan pamphlets, which was addressed by His Majesty's High Commissioner
for
Transjordan
Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
to the Colonial Office on the 29th September, under No. TC/58/39,
reached jedda in time for me to receive a telegram from Jedda on the subject
before I left Riyadh, and I spoke to Sheikh Yusuf Yasin about the matter. I
said that the Lligh Commissioner considered that the Amir Abdullah had had
nothing to do with the Bludan pamphlets. As to the letter, I said that not only
did the Amir admit he had written it, but he claimed to have written several
others to Qassab, and to have written them knowing that Qassab was one of the
chief supporters of His Majesty King Abdul Aziz in Syria, and that they would
infallibly be communicated to him. Sheikh Yusuf was a little taken aback at this,
and I thought it well to say that while the letter was unwise and discourteous,
as His Majesty's Government had said, Qassab was perhaps something of an
[755 x—2]
About this item
- Content
The volume consists of letters, telegrams, and reports relating to the affairs of Saudi Arabia. Most of the correspondence is between the British Legation in Jeddah, the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in Bushire, the Foreign Office in London, the Political Agencies in Kuwait and Bahrain, the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. in London, and the Government of India.
The volume covers the build up to and outbreak of the Second World War and thus much of the correspondence focuses on this subject. Topics include:
- the activities of the Germans, Italians, and Japanese in the region;
- Ibn Sa'ud's allegiance to Britain and the Allies;
- Ibn Sa'ud's anxiety about Hashemite dominance in Syria and potential attack from hostile Arab nations;
- anti-Allied sentiment in the region;
- the financial and political contribution of the United States of America.
Other subjects covered by the volume are:
- the maintenance of law and order in the Kingdom;
- the presence of community feeling and national identity;
- Captain De Gaury's journeys in Saudi Arabia, including a report on agricultural development at Kharj, and the objection to his proposed tour of all of Arabia;
- Amir Sa'ud's trip to India for medical treatment;
- the anti-British activities of St John Philby and his subsequent arrest in India.
At the back of the volume (folios 177-186) are internal office notes.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (192 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged chronologically.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The sequence starts on the first folio and continues through to the inside back cover. The numbering is written in pencil, circled, and located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. The first three folios are marked 1A, 1B, and 1C respectively, then the sequence continues from 2 as normal. There is one other foliation system, written in pencil and inconsistent.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/572
- Title
- 'File 61/11 IX (D 159) Nejd-Hejaz Miscellaneous'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 1r:1v, 1br:1cv, 2r:43r, 44v:58v, 60r:166r, 166r:189v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence