Coll 17/35 ‘Iraq. Iraq – Saudi Relations. Demarcation of Frontier.’ [‎21v] (42/112)

2
'■ proceeds in a straight line to a point on the Hejaz Railway 2 miles south
of Mudawwara [point F]. From this point it proceeds m a straight line
to a point on the Gulf of Aqaba 2 miles south of the town of Aqaba
[point G].”
As in the case of the extract from the Hadda Agreement, the notes in square
brackets are added for convenience of reference.
4. The frontier between Nejd and the Hejaz (now Saudi Arabia) and
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 resulting from the Hadda Agreement and Sir Gilbert Clayton s
letter, though never delimited, was observed for some years by the local authoi ities
and populations on both sides without any serious difficulty arising, and nothing
worse than a few local incidents occurred to disturb relations between His
Majesty’s Government and the Saudi Arabian Government.
(B )—The Discussions of 1934- 35.
5. In 1934, however, two points about which there had been some dispute
formed the subject of communications from the Saudi Arabian Government.
These were :—
(i) Hazim, an important well at the head of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sirhan.
(ii) Thaniyya Taraif, which was presumed to be one or both of two water
courses lying to the east of the debel Tubaik, in the south-eastei n
corner of 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 , and shown as Shaib Tarais and Shaib
Thaniyya on the 1918 map.
6. The question of Hazim arose in the following way : A somewhat similar
disagreement over the neighbouring well of Haditha had led a few years before
to the recognition by 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 that the well lay within Saudi Arabian
territory, and to the subsequent suggestion that if the Saudi Arabian Govern
ment would allow 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 patrols to water at Haditha Saudi patrols should
enjoy the same facilities at Hazim. On the 2nd June, 1934, six months after
this suggestion was made, the Saudi Arabian Government replied with a request
to be supplied with the results of any ‘ ‘ astronomic measurements '' which might
have been made at Hazim. The Saudi Arabian Government also indicated that
they considered the w T ell to lie exactly on the frontier with 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 . 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 Government were convinced that it lay on their own side of the
frontier, but owing to the state of ignorance in which His Majesty’s Government
then found themselves about the geography of the Avhole area in question, it
was decided to leave the request for further information unanswered. The Saudi
Arabian Government have not since returned to the charge; and it may be added
that although at seasons when tribes are grazing in the Hazim area a small
Saudi patrol has been encamped near the well, in addition to the seasonal post
of 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 Police, no serious incident has occurred there.
7. As regards Thaniyya Taraif, the first Saudi Arabian protest was made
in October 1934. It was vaguely worded as regards the exact point complained
of, and His Majesty’s Government, being then still ignorant of the geographical
facts, took advantage of this vagueness to conceal their doubts, and to reply
that the car track on which the place named was situated had been used regularly
by 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 patrols for the past three years and was in 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 territory.
A further protest was made by the Saudi Arabian Government early in 1935. It
attempted to be more precise in indicating the place concerned, and this suggested
that the Saudi Arabian Government were using the 1918 map. By this time
His Majesty’s Government had received maps compiled from recent surveys.
These maps left no room for doubt that the car track round the southern and
eastern flanks of the Jebel Tubaik used by armoured cars of the Royal Air
Force and 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 Frontier Force when on patrol followed the water-courses
shown as Shaib Tarais and Shaib Thaniyya on the 1918 map, and passed in
doing so to the east of the line D-E on that map, and so through Saudi Arabian
territory. His Majesty’s Minister at Jedda took the view that this protest
both increased the necessity for a clarification of the frontiers and provided an
opportunity for suggesting the necessary steps to the Saudi Arabian Government.