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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.' [327r] (653/761)
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.
FUAD BEY suggested that the treaty might be prolonged for ten years,
unless a new treaty were negotiated in the meanwhile.
Mr. RENDEL and SIR A. RYAN thought that this was a useful formula,
to which there could be no objection, and agreed to recommend it to His Majesty s
Government.
The discussion then turned to the question of slavery and manumission m
relation to the prolongation of the treaty.
iS Mr. RENDEL reminded Fuad Bey that the whole question of the renewal
of the treaty hinged on a settlement being reached on this issue which would be
satisfactory from the point of view of their respective Governments. He under
stood from Sir A. Ryan that his private discussions with Fuad Bey had shown
that there was a good prospect of agreement, although there were still a tew
points outstanding about which Sir Andrew was not entirely happy, particularly
the reluctance of Fuad Bey to agree to make the clause in the regulations
affording redress to persons who could show that they had been illegally ensla'v e
in the past, applicable to persons enslaved prior to the establishment ot the
present regime in the Hejaz. If Sir A. Ryan felt any doubts about the adequacy
of the slavery regulations which the Saudi Government were proposing to issue,
Fuad Bey could be sure that they would not satisfy public and parliamentary
opinion in this country when it became necessary for His Majesty s Government
to justify the surrender of their right of manumission.
FUAD BEY observed that His Majesty’s Government were not alone m
experiencing difficulties over the slavery question. He had only received very
general instructions from King Abdul Aziz to guide him in his negotiations on
the subject, and he feared that in his discussions with Sir Andrew Ryan he
mi Hit already have gone too far and be unable to obtain approval 101 the
concessions he had offered. He begged His Majesty’s Government to realise that
Kino 1 Abdul Aziz had himself to reckon with the force of public opinion m regard
to slavery, which was an ancient and established institution in Arabia, sanctined
by Islamic law and tradition. His Majesty would have to consult his tribal and
religious leaders, and they might well, if only from motives of self-interest, retuse
to agree to the far-reaching measures that were now proposed. Fuad Bey pointed
out that, in introducing reforms on the subject of slavery, King Abdul Aziz
would have to contend with a mass of vested interests, as well as with the religious
feelings of important sections of the population.
Mr RENDEL and SIR ANDREW RYAN replied that they fully
appreciated the difficulties that confronted King Abdul Aziz and the Saudi
Government and were most anxious that His Majesty should, if possible, obtain
the prior consent of the ulema and the tribal leaders befoie intioducmg the
proposed reforms.
Mr. RENDEL desired, however, to point out that His Majesty’s Government
were only asking King Abdul Aziz to carry out certain reforms that were, m any
case, inevitable before very long, if, as they hoped, Saudi Arabia were to continue
to maintain its present rate of progress under the enlightened rule of His Maiesty
and to take its proper international place in the modern world. The mdenmte
continuance of slavery as an institution was not possible m the conditions ot the
present day, and he cited the trouble which Abyssinia was experiencing through
the continuance of slavery within her borders. „ . .
He begged Fuad Bey to submit to King Abdul Aziz the result ot his
conversations with Sir Andrew Ryan on the subject of slavery, and to try to
obtain from His Majesty some definite and far-reaching proposals which could
be laid before Ministers here as a satisfactory counterpart to the surrender o±
the right of manumission. Once agreement had been reached on the question or
slavery, nothing would stand in the way of the Treaty of Jedda being piolonged.
FUAD BEY promised to do his best to produce as soon as possible the final
proposals of his Government. It was agreed that when these were available
they would be submitted to Ministers without delay, and a communication
containing the views of His Majesty’s Government would then be made to the
Saudi Government through His Majesty’s representative at Jedda.
The discussion then turned to the question of the prolongation or modification
of the exchange of notes (Nos. 5 and 6) at the time of the signature of the Treaty
of Jedda in regard to purchases of arms by the Saudi Government.
[456 y—11 B 2
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.' [327r] (653/761), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2088, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048209026.0x000038> [accessed 22 November 2024]
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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