Coll 6/16 'Future of: Royal Family. Probable happenings on the death of Ibn Saud.' [‎176r] (352/440)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
p.z
EASTERN (Aeabia).
CONFIDENTIAL.
June 28, 1933.
Section 2.
[E 3472/2514/23] No. li
Sir A. Ryan to Sir John Simon.'—{Received June 28.)
|>ir! * . | Jedda, June 5, 1933.
’ SINCE I wrote my despatch No. 155 o f the 23rd May, the local press has
published a mass of further articles, &a, regarding the designation °f the
Amir Saud as heir apparent. The Amir FeisaTs party arrived at Riyadh on
the 21st May, and there was a banquet that evening. The ceremonial of the Baya
was fixed for next day. The heir apparent had on his right his uncle Muhammad,
the King’s eldest brother, who was already in Riyadh. With him were numerous
other princes, including Saud-bih-Abdul-Aziz, the head of the Araif branch of
the Royal family, and the Amirs of the House of Fashid. On the other side were
the religious and civil dignitaries. The preliminaries included the reading of
the King’s telegram to his heir and a further letter brought by the mission from
Mecca. There followed addresses in prose and verse, culminating m a speech by
the Amir Muhammad, who was the first to perform the Baya by shaking hands.
He was followed by a string of religious and princely personages. The Amir
Saud expressed his thanks and proceeded to receive the Baya of the general
company. No express mention is made of the presence of tribal sheikhs. 1 need
not trouble you with particulars of the subsequent banquets given by the Amir
Muhammad and others. The delegates from Mecca left Riyadh on the 24th May
and got back to Mecca on the 28th May. . ,
2. In describing these proceedings, the Umm-al-Q/ura emphasises the
importance of the role played hy the King’s brother Muhammad, and the fact
that he was the first to perform the Baya. Incidentally, it describes him, contrary
to the general opinion that he is slightly older than Ibn Baud, as being two years
younger. The paper adds that it is disclosing no secret in saying that the Amir
Muhammad had a considerable hand in the designation of the heir.
3. I may observe in this connexion that the only leading member qt the
Royal family, other than the King, who was not present at the ceremonial at
Riyadh, was the King’s second brother, the Amir Abdullah. The Umm-al-Qwra
publishes a most loyal letter from this prince to the .Amir Baud. He excuses his
non-attendance on the ground that the King had denied him permission to go, as
he had wished to dp, and explicitly tenders the Baya by letter. His absence is,
nevertheless, somewhat curious. Both the Amir Muhammad and me^Amir
Abdullah, who is several years younger, have been credited m the past with
ambitious natures, and there was a time when Muhammad was thought to be
critical of the King, if only on religious grounds. It is worth noting that m a
recent conversation with me about the designation of the heir apparent,
Mr Philby said that Muhammad was a man of no political ambition and was
wrapped up in religion, but hinted that the ambition of Abdullah was something
which had to be reckoned with. I stress these facts because they may be important
if Ibn Saud should vacate the throne in any near future. , T _. #
4. Had Polonius been a Wahhabi, he could not have improved on the King s
letter to the heir apparent, except by shortening it. The published version is far
too long to reproduce, but I cull the following points from the mass of injunctions,
texts, &c., contained in it:—
(a) The King pays a tribute to the people of the Hejaz, of whose sincerity
and loyalty he was sure, but whose expression of it excelled his
(b) Of \he 6 people of Nejd, His Majesty says that he has written to them,
granting their request in regard to the succession. • , , •
y His Majesty reminds the prince that the A1 Saud have attained their
position not by their own might, but by the grace of God, who
bestowed it because of their belief in the Tawhid, i.e., His unity.
[823 ee—2]