'File 61/6 vol.4 (D 34) Bin Saud and Akwan Movement' [‎32v] (64/565)

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of God. Your orders are every moment awaited. I send this witli two other covers
and Bin Sand's letter at 4 p. m . to-day, Saturday, 31st July 1920.
Farhan Beg is doing splendidly and sends you his regards. \\ ith best wishes.
As I am closing news is received from Asir that Bin Saud s cousin Abdul Aziz
bin Mus'aid has captured Ubbaha or Ibbaha the chief town of Assir, and that Bin
Marai has, after a severe defeat, fled to the hills. r i he report says that the number
of garrison, etc., killed is greater than that at Taiabah last year and the town is
now in Akhwans' hands. The ruler is a friend of the Sharif who will no doubt
complain to Jeddah and Cairo although he is alleged to have started the quain
by instigating Bin Marai, the ruler of 'Asir against the Idrisi and Bin Sand.
Bin Sand is very glad of this.
Riyadh,
31st July 1920.
Annexure IV to Enclosure III.
Demi-official, dated the 2nd August 1920.
From—Kh mi Sahib Saiyid Siddiq Hasan , Indian Assistant, Bahrein, (on deputa
tion to Riyadh),
To— Majoti H. R. P. Dickson, C.I.E., Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahroin.
Very many thanks for your kind note of 27th July 1920, which was delivered
to me at 8 p.m . last evening.
We were in terrible suspense and are only happy to find that Government has
approved Bin Sand's suggestion to send a small mission. Both sides are, of course,
actively inimical to each other up to the present moment, so much cannot be
expected to come out of any interview, etc., still as things now are, this is the best
that could be done. He was very glad to see that his proposal was approved, and
easily, rather voluntarily, agreed to send off his mission with us on Thursday next,
5th instant. I am writing to you about this separately. A wise statesman,
that he is, he wishes to try and mend matters even now as you will see from my
memo, of date. But I may say that Bin Saud does not strike me to be quite
sincere with Sharif—he abuses the poor old man like a rogue, and every Najdi does
the same, so perfectly Bin Saud teaches his people his own views.
I sent you rather lengthly reports of all what Bin Saud has talked to us and
am sending two more today. I hope you will excuse me for writing at such a great
length, but I feel I must tell you all I hear, hence the lengthy reports. I am
handicapped in not having a camera or even knowing drawing well, so let me con
tent myself with wori-piefcu ej o£ what I see t ,nd hea: in thid part of the world.
The turning of faces, covering up of eyes, and muttering of half audible curses,
is very little less than what you saw in Hasa—the pious Ikhwan cannot help it on
seeing us. We bear up with it all, although Farhan at times becomes so much
excited as to be likely to strike. He has also suffered a bit from the climate,
heat by day and^cold by night, he is not down in bed, but js always with me when
visiting the Imam or his sons, etc. I need not say that he is a great help, and
I must thank you again for sending him with me. N
He wants me to say that he remembers your advice and wishes, and will do
his utmost to prove to your satisfaction (of which I am quite sure).
With all his long valuable talks, self-praise and self aggrandisement, I find the
Imam Abdul Aziz very polite and good natured. He always calls, at least once,
often twice, a day and talks to us alone " khususi."
I did not trouble him to fix the head of the mission and its members, etc.; he
will do it soon I hope and we leave here for Mecca on 5th August. It will be a
terribly hurried journey in such a hot time of the year but it cannot be helped.
We rely on God.
With all good wishes and our joint respects
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