Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎266r] (532/802)

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II .—Frontier Questions and Foreign Relations in Arabia.
117. Sir Andrew Ryan s conversations with Fuad Bey Hamza regarding
the projected Saudi—Transjordan settlement (see paragraph 91 ot the last report)
^_|vprp continued on the 4th and 20th June with satisfactory results. The question
✓ ,f a working agreement on tribal nationality still presents difficulty, especially
as regards the Sirhan tribe. When Sir Andrew Ryan outlined the state of the
negotiations to Ibn Saud on the 11th June, His Majesty made light of all
obstacles and dismissed the question of the Sirhan as one which could easily be
disposed of by a comparison of evidence. It was clear on the 20th June that
Fuad Bey’s cue was to get on with the final settlement at almost any cost. He
and Sir Andrew Ryan agreed that so little remained for discussion except matters
of drafting that the second stage of the formal negotiations might safely be
proceeded with, and it was decided in principle to suggest a meeting of delegates
in Jerusalem on the 24th July. His Majesty’s Government and the High
Commissioner have since concurred in this proposal. In the last days of June
Sir Andrew Ryan prepared from copious evidence adduced in Amman a
memorandum justifying on historical and other grounds the 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 claim
to the Sirhan tribe. At the end of the month two or three incidental matters were
under consideration, the most important being a suggestion that the actual
signature of the texts to be agreed in Jerusalem might take place at Amman.
118. On the 10th June the Saudi Government produced another complaint
similar to that mentioned in paragraph 92 of the last report regarding the alleged
killing of two persons by men of the Arab Legion on the 15th May. Sir iVndrew
Ryan replied that in his opinion it could be assumed that any report of unprovoked
killing was unfounded, and asked for various particulars.
119. The principal development as between Iraq and Saudi Arabia during
the month was what appears to be a satisfactory settlement of the question of
Hashimite properties. A rescript addressed by Ibn Saud to the Amir Feisal
orders the removal of the restrictions previously imposed on the properties of all
Ashraf, with the exception of the Sherif Khalid, who was implicated in anti-
Saudi conspiracies last year.
120. The statement in paragraph 94 of the last report relative to the
conclusion of an agreement between Iraq and Saudi Arabia regarding the
proposed motor-route from Nejef to Medina was premature. The Iraq Govern
ment completed the necessary surveys on their side some time ago, but the Saudi
Government have not yet notified the completion of similar surveys on their side.
121. The Saudi mission to San’a had made little or no progress when last
heard of owing apparently to the further illness of the Imam. There have been
definite rumours of Yemeni military activity in Najran. Fuad Bey told
Sir Andrew Ryan on the 20th J une that there was no official confirmation of these
reports, but that if they were true a serious situation would arise. He defined the
Saudi contention as being that the frontier settlement which, in their view, was
reached by the mission that went to San’a in 1927, gave Najran to Ibn Saud and
left the bulk of the Beni Yam country which Fuad Bey identified with the
geographical area of Jauf to the Imam (see paragraph 93 of the last report, and
paragraph 114 above).
122. On the 4th June Fuad Bey told Sir Andrew Ryan that Ibn Saud had
written a letter to the Sheikh of Koweit making a proposal which, if agreed to,
could subsequently be made official, for the adjustment of their commercial
relations. Reports from Koweit show that this letter reached the sheikh on
the 16th June and proved to be very obscure. The proposal appeared to be that,
if the sheikh would levy the same import duties as those charged in Hasa ports,
Ibn Saud would allow the caravans from Koweit to enter Nejd on payment only
of a moderate tax to the same amount as one formerly levied by the tribal sheikhs
in Ibn Rashid’s time. The sheikh considered the proposal unacceptable, but His
Majesty’s Government have suggested that it is worth exploring. No attempt
can be made in Jedda to appreciate its true character, but two points are worth
noting, viz., (a) the King appears to have suggested to the sheikh that they should
settle the matter by a direct deal and not through the British, who could not be
trusted; and (b) the reference to Hasa ports suggests that Ibn Saud persists in
his hope of developing one or more ports on that coast and cutting out Bahrein.
(Cf. paragraph 96 of the last report, the subject of which remains in the same
position, so far as the Legation is concerned.)