Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎210r] (420/540)

(5) Bahrein and Koweit.
44. The reasons given in paragraph 47 of the annual report for 1930 for
dealing together with Ibn Sand’s relations with these two sheikhdoms still hold
good. There was no change in 1931 in the legal situation in regard to them. The
various inter-connected questions arising out of their position vis-a-vis Hejaz-
Nejd remained unresolved, and they still fall to be dealt with by His Majesty’s
Government in the United Kingdom in the absence of any formal political
relations between Ibn Sand and the sheikhs. Ibn Saud continued to maintain
his commercial agents at Bahrein and Koweit. There were no signs of any
development in his unofficial or personal relations with the sheikhs of Bahrein,
but early in the year there was a certain rapprochement between him and the
Sheikh of Koweit. They reached a satisfactory agreement over at least one
tiresome though insignificant question of frontier camels. The King invited the
sheikh to come on pilgrimage, and his eldest son, the Amir Saud, sought the
honour of escorting him to the Holy Land. The invitation was declined for
financial reasons.
45. The whole position in regard to the complex of Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. questions
was overshadowed in 1930 by the attitude of personal hostility which the King
had taken up towards the 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. . This affair
had taken a happier turn towards the end of that year, but it still remained to
make the reconciliation effective by bringing about a meeting between them. His
Majesty’s Minister in Jedda had written on the 28th December suggesting that
Colonel Biscoe should pay a visit to Ibn Saud in Nejd, where the King then was,
a visit which was projected on the British side as one of courtesy only, though
it was hoped that the King himself might take the initiative in discussing
business.
46. Ibn Saud’s then visit to Nejd was a short one. Even if he had been
keen, it would have been difficult for him to receive the 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. , all
the more so as it would have been contrary to his policy to do so at Riadh, no
place, in his view, for Europeans. On the 28th January, having returned to
Mecca, he wrote a friendly letter to Sir A. Ryan expressing regret that he had
been unable to arrange the matter in Nejd, but offering to receive Colonel Biscoe
at Jedda. This invitation could not be accepted for practical reasons of
distance, &c., apart from any other considerations. A suitably polite explana
tion of the Resident’s inability to accept it was conveyed to His Majesty and was
confirmed to him personally by Sir A. Ryan at his audience of the 2nd March.
The King received it most amiably, and hopes were expressed on both sides that
the visit might take place later when His Majesty should be again in Nejd. He
added spontaneously that he would be prepared to discuss matters of common
interest. The matter rested there for the remainder of the year. On the
17th June Sir A. Ryan reminded the King of his promise, and the King left for
Nejd soon after. Up to the end of December, however, he had not gone to Hasa,
although at a friendly meeting between Colonel Biscoe and the Hejaz-Nejd
Minister in London on the 21st July Sheikh Hafiz Wahba held out a hope of His
Majesty’s being in that neighbourhood in September.
47. On the 13th May Colonel Biscoe reported to the Colonial Office on a
question about which he had been in communication with the Sheikh of Koweit
for some time, but which had not loomed very large among the “ Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
questions” in 1930, namely, that of old Koweiti claims against Nejd under
various counts. The sheikh had put these at the modest figure of 111,58,190
rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . He had been induced to scale them down to 14,86,590 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , a more
moderate figure, which still, however, represented something like £110,000.
Colonel Biscoe considered the claims as restated to be incontestable. He inclined
in principle to the view that a claim for the amount should be put forward
through the Legation in Jedda, but suggested that a decision should be post
poned pending consultation with himself and Sir A. Ryan when on leave in
London. Eventually this and other questions which had been under consideration
in anticipation of a meeting between the 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. and Ibn Saud were
reviewed on the 12th August at an inter-departmental conference at the Eoreign
Office, at which Colonel Biscoe, Colonel Dickson, the 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. at Koweit,
and Sir A. Ryan were present. Views were exchanged regarding the mode of
negotiation with Ibn Saud, the embargo on trade with Koweit, the proposals for
[7104] c 3