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Coll 6/21(2) 'Saudi Arabia: Relations with H.M.G.: Saudi Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah. Prolongation of Treaty of Jedda.' [171v] (342/761)
The record is made up of 1 file (379 folios). It was created in 14 Jan 1935-12 Apr 1947. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
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Iraq should deal with His Majesty’s Government in the matter of Palestine on
behalf of Ibn Sand, and that Ibn Sand should deal with the Imam about his
adhesion to the Saudi-Iraq Treaty. Ibn Baud had expressed surprise at this
request, and had said that both States must act together in both matters. He
spoke of what appeared to be a similar attempt to side-track him in the matter of
securing the adhesion of the Imam to the treaty. He then spoke of the surprise he t
had felt at the Iraqis wanting to insert in the treaty a reference to the League of
Nations, of which Saudi Arabia was not a member, and added that the Imam
would never consent to sign anything in which there was a reference to the
League. Mr. Rendel explained that members of the League could not assume any
obligation which might be incompatible with their existing obligations under the
Covenant, and that they were therefore bound to make a reservation to that effect
in any treaty involving military assistance, &c. Moreover, Iraq was also bound
by the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of Alliance, which, as His Majesty’s Government had
pointed out to the Iraqi Government, involved a similar reservation on the part
of Iraq. Mr. Rendel said that, of course, such a reservation would not affect a
party not a member of the League, and that consequently neither Saudi Arabia
nor the Yemen would be affected by such a reservation on the part of Iraq.
15. The King then said that he had often been asked whether the Arab
States of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
could not adhere to the Saudi-Iraq Treaty. He had
fended off such enquiries, alleging the unimportance of such States, but he would
be glad to know the opinion of His Majesty’s Government. Mr. Rendel reminded
His Majesty of the position of His Majesty’s Government in the Gulf. They had
had relations with the Arab rulers there in some cases for as long as a century
and a half, having been compelled to take action in regard to gun-running,
piracy, the slave trade, &c. As a result, as had been made clear at the time of the
Treaty of Jedda, the foreign affairs of Koweit, Bahrein, Qatar and the Trucial
Sheikhdoms were in the hands of His Majesty’s Government, who exercised
sovereignty over them in those affairs and therefore could not allow them to enter
into treaty relations with any foreign State. Ibn Sand seemed to accept this
statement without demur.
16. This subject led to the question of the frontiers. Mr. Rendel repeated
the arguments which he used with Sheikh Yusuf Yasin on the 19th March, saying
that His Majesty’s Government had made great concessions in this respect,
whereas His Majesty was holding firmly to his original demand. In the northern
part of the eastern frontier there remained nothing between the parties but the
Jabal Naksh and Khor-el-Odeid with perhaps an adjustment in the Sufuk
(Safaq) region that might go some way towards meeting the King’s wishes.
Could not His Majesty make some concession here? It would make an excellent
impression on the Foreign Office if he could. Ibn Saud repeated his familiar
statement that the whole of the coast belonged to his ancestors and that the present
rulers would not deny it. Koweit, for instance; all the tribes living in Koweit
were really Saudi tribes. It was true that he had recognised the treaties between
the coastal rulers and His Majesty’s Government in the Hadda Agreement^ 1 ) but
on the question of the boundaries there was a limit beyond which he could not go.
The boundary of Qatar was well known to be Araik, which was in the nufud.
17. The maps which were at hand were examined, but Araik was not
marked on them. Sir Reader Bullard said that he had seen a map on which,
unless his memory was at fault, Araik was shown to the south of Jabal Naksh
In that case there would no longer be any disagreement on that point.
18. As to Khor-el-Odeid, Ibn Saud said that, in claiming it for Saudi
Arabia, he was thinking of the interests of His-Majesty’s Government as much
as of his own, for no one but himself could keep order there. When crimes were
committed there it was to him that the people applied for redress.
19. The King seemed very anxious to pass on to another subject. It
appeared at first that he was wanting to evade the boundary question, but when
the other subject came to be broached it was found to be a question of capital
importance. What, the King asked, would happen to him in the case of war?
Suppose war began in Europe, or in the Yemen, or anywhere? Could not His
Majesty’s Government make some treaty or some other lesser undertaking with
him ? It could be secret if they wished.
20. Mr. Rendel said that any such undertaking, and more especially any
kind of secret guarantee, was precluded by the British constitutional system.
( 1 ) This reference should be to Article 6 of the Treaty of Jedda.
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About this item
- Content
This file, like the previous volume (IOR/L/PS/12/2087), concerns relations between the British Government and the Government of Saudi Arabia.
The file largely consists of copies of Foreign Office correspondence, mainly between His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan, Sir Reader William Bullard, Hugh Stonehewer Bird, and Stanley R Jordan successively) and officials of the Foreign Office. Other prominent correspondents include the following: the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires to Jedda (Albert Spencer Calvert, succeeded by Alan Charles Trott); His Majesty's Ambassador in Baghdad (Sir Kinahan Cornwallis); Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd]; Amir Faisal [Fayṣal bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd], Minister of Foreign Affairs for Saudi Arabia; officials of the Colonial Office and the War Office.
The correspondence documents the progression of negotiations for a general settlement between the two governments, which would result in the initial prolongation of the validity of the Treaty of Jedda (the treaty signed between Britain and Ibn Saud in 1927, which initially expired in September 1934) for a period of seven years from 1936 (and for another seven years from 1943).
In addition to discussing matters relating to the proposed general settlement (e.g. the eastern and south-eastern boundaries of Saudi Arabia, slavery regulations, arms traffic, and Saudi debts), the correspondence also documents various visits and meetings, including the following:
- The visit of Amir Saud [Āl Sa‘ūd, Sa‘ūd bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz, heir apparent of Ibn Saud] to Britain (17 June-1 July 1935), accompanied by Fuad Bey Hamza, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs for Saudi Arabia.
- Further meetings at the Foreign Office between Fuad Bey Hamza, Hafiz Wahba (Saudi Minister in London), Sir Andrew Ryan, George William Rendel (Head of the Foreign Office's Eastern Department), and other Foreign Office officials, in July 1935, following on from meetings in September 1934.
- Sir Andrew Ryan's meetings with Ibn Saud in Riyadh in December 1935 and in Jedda in February 1936.
- Four interviews held between Ibn Saud, Sir Reader William Bullard and George William Rendel, in Jedda, during March 1937.
Also discussed are matters relating to the Second World War, including:
- An exchange of letters between Ibn Saud and the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, in early 1939, which principally relate to Ibn Saud's concerns regarding his country's security in the event of the beginning of general hostilities.
- German radio broadcasts in Jedda during the first few weeks of the Second World War and their possible effect on the Jedda population.
- The possibility of Iraq and Saudi Arabia formally joining the Allies in the Second World War.
In addition to correspondence the file includes the following: a copy of a programme for Amir Saud's visit to Britain (ff 339-348); exchanges of notes (in English and Arabic) between the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the British Legation at Jedda, confirming the prolongation of the Treaty of Jedda, dated 1936 and 1943 respectively (ff 189-192 and ff 4-5); a sketch map showing air routes over Saudi Arabia and Iraq (f 31v).
Although the material in this file falls inside the date range of 1935-1943, the final document in the file does include an additional date stamp which is marked '12 April 1947'.
The file includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (379 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 380; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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Coll 6/21(2) 'Saudi Arabia: Relations with H.M.G.: Saudi Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah. Prolongation of Treaty of Jedda.' [171v] (342/761), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2088, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048209024.0x000091> [accessed 6 June 2026]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2088
- Title
- Coll 6/21(2) 'Saudi Arabia: Relations with H.M.G.: Saudi Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah. Prolongation of Treaty of Jedda.'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:4r, 5r, 6r:31r, 32r:75v, 77r:77v, 79r:152v, 158r:173v, 175r:180v, 186r:187v, 188v:189r, 190v:191r, 192r:199v, 201r:204v, 206r:266v, 269r:275v, 276v:278v, 280r:286v, 288r:293r, 295r:314r, 316r:380v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence