File 2182/1913 Pt 5 'Arabia Nejd: Policy Bin Saud' [‎365v] (306/308)

him on any Foreign Power. The compromise arrived at in the wording, as
accepted, seems to be a fair one.
9. He expressed opinion that our first wording with reference to the
extent of aid to be given was too one-sided, but he readily agreed to the alter
native which was accordingly adopted.
9. (a) Addition of words “and countries”. The protection of his
countries must, 1 think, be considered as included in the protection of his
interests—as his main interest in fact, I therefore saw no objection to the
addition of the words, as he desired them.
Article IV.
Items 10, 11, 12 and 13 call for no comment.
14. “Where his interests require it”. Bin Saud did not like the
unqualified undertaking to accept our advice ; and the alternative pro
vision was covered by the discretion given me. In regard to this
article however I would offer the following observations. In the
British Draft the tc advice ” referred to seems only to mean advice in
regard to the cession of territory dealt with in the Article; but as it came in
the Arabic, Bin Saud seemed to regard the undertaking as a general one.
There are of course no stops in the Arabic, so that it is open to either construc
tion, and I would therefore suggest that in the English version, of which he
has asked for a copy, we should have a full stop and new paragraph after the
words “ British Government This punctuation makes Bin Sand’s under
taking not to cede, without our consent, an absolute one, as I believe he
means it to be, and in addition gives us a general undertaking from him to
follow our advice, when we find it necessary to give it him, unreservedly so
long as it is not damaging to his own interests.
Article V.
15 and 16. The wording has been improved somewhat; the meaning is the
same as before.
Article VI.
17. Omission of words “other Chiefs and tribes”. He said he had
merely omitted these words as the several Chiefs whom we did protect and had
relations with were all mentioned, so that the words in question seemed
unnecessary ; it was difficult to justify the retention of the words as providing
for future requirements^ without arguing possible cases in point. This it
was difficult to do, so I did not press for their restoration.
18. His wording accepted.
19. He pointed out that some of the matters such as boundaries were
among those already alluded to in the present treaty, so there seemed no
need to say other matters. The point seemed of no importance, so 1 did
not press it.
P. Z. COX, Lieut.-Colonel,
Political Lesident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Enclo. No. 4.
Translation.
Dated the 27th December 1915.
From Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
Tc— Abdul Aziz bin Saud.
After compliments. I trust you were able to start from Darein this
morning as was your intention when we separated last night.
It 1 be f 1 ame necessary for me to write and explain to you that on going
rough the original of the signed Treaty again carefully with a view to