![Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.' [‎136v] (283/914)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000271/IOR_L_PS_12_2087_0283.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.' [‎136v] (283/914)")
Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.' [136v] (283/914)
The record is made up of 1 volume (453 folios). It was created in 7 Sep 1927-10 Jan 1935. It was written in English. 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.
8. Sir A. Ryan observed that it was all the more important to have a clear
view, as express reference had been made in all the earlier discussions to two
other Powers, non-Arab, with whom His Majesty's Government were also on
terms of friendship, and who were neighbours of Iraq though not of Saudi
Arabia.
9. Fuad Bey said that he had nothing to conceal. The two Powers just
mentioned were Turkey and Persia. His Government were at present on quite
friendly terms with both, and there was no aggressive motive behind their wish
lor closer relations with Iraq. Nevertheless, the recent rapprochement between
Turkey and Persia had inspired anxiety in all Arab countries. It was all the
greater as a secular racial animosity existed between Arabs and both Turks and
Persians. However correct relations might now be, his Government feared the
ulterior designs of Turkey and Persia, about which they had a good deal of
information.
10. Turkey favoured the maintenance of the French position in Syria,
subject to her wish for a readjustment in her favour in the Alexandretta region.
Mustafa Kemal
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
had stated to a reliable informant that Turkey preferred
to have two separate Powers on her southern border.( 2 ) There was no secret
about Persian aspirations in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, witness the claims she was
asserting to Bahrein, &c. Persia was growing more powerful, e.y., she now had
six warships in the Gulf, where previously there had been none but British ships.
Speaking as an Arab, Fuad Bey would like to see Bahrein develop into an
independent Arab unit; in the meanwhile, he certainly did not wish to see Persia
establish a claim, as against His Majesty’s Government.
11. Mr. Rendel said he did not think Persian claims to Bahrein need worry
Fuad Bey, but that he understood the general anxiety of which he had spoken.
At the same time such information as His Majesty’s Government possessed did
not suggest that there was much danger in the rapprochement between Turkey
and Persia, or that either Power had aggressive designs. Turkey had pursued
a remarkably peaceful and non-aggressive policy for the last ten years.
12. Fuad Bey was impressed by the quick changes that came over the
relations of States. In Europe he found a very different grouping from that of
two years ago. He cited as one example the present closeness of the relations
between France, Russia and Turkey. It had looked some months ago as though
there were even more material for war than in 1914. Happily this danger had
been averted, but there might again be quick changes; and similarly in the East,
whatever tne present position, Turkey and Persia might become "hostile to the
Arabs. Any blow aimed by them at Iraq would, as the King had told Sir A. Ryan,
menace Saudi Arabia indirectly.
13. This digiession was not further pursued. Fuad Bev said he under
stood what Mr. Rendel had said regarding His Majesty’s Government’s attitude
m icgard to the proposed rapprochement between Saudi and Iraq. He went on
to ask what view would be taken of similar rapprochements with other
Arab States.
14. 4/?. Rendel emphasised the importance which His Majesty’s Govern
ment attach to a settlement between Saudi Arabia and Koweit. As regards th(
smallei States on the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, however, he said that it would be of great
importance to know clearly what sort of arrangements Fuad Bey had in mind
as not the situation already sufficiently provided for under article 6 of thi
treaty ot Jedda. His Majesty’s Government gave a very free hand to the rulers
o ose ^tates m matters of local concern, but they were responsible for theii
oieign a airs. Saudi Arabia was a great and powerful State compared with
these minor sheikhdoms^ Might not closer relations with Ibn Saud end by making
these Mates into something like satellites of the greater Power? His Majesty's
Government would certainly not be able to acquiesce in any such development."
to. It was agreed to resume this discussion later. Asked what othei
subjects he wished to raise, Fuad Bey again referred to the question of the south-
( 2 ) I took this to imply that he thought that Turkey woul
Arabia, e.g.. between Syria and Iraq,—(Initialed) G.W.R,
oppose any Arab combination in northern
About this item
- Content
This volume concerns relations between the British Government and the Government of the Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia).
The volume largely consists of copies of Foreign Office and Colonial Office correspondence. The correspondence near the beginning of the volume discusses Ibn Saud's [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd's] wish to enter into full diplomatic relations with the British Government. The Hejazi Government's proposal in 1929 to establish a legation in London is accompanied by a request for the British Government to raise the status of its Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and Consulate in Jedda to the same status.
The subsequent correspondence in the volume discusses the following:
- The British Government's consideration (and acceptance) of Ibn Saud's proposal, and the appointment of Sir Andrew Ryan as His Majesty's Minister at the British Legation in Jedda in May 1930.
- Hafiz Wahba's appointment as Hejazi Minister in London in 1930.
- Complaints made by the Hejazi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarding Sir Andrew Ryan's attitude and conduct since his arrival in Jedda.
- Details of an Hejazi-Nejdi diplomatic mission to Europe (including visits to Italy, France, Britain, and the Netherlands), undertaken in May 1932 and headed by Amir Feisal [Fayṣal bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd], Hejazi Minister for Foreign Affairs (this part of the volume includes detailed accounts of the mission's meetings with Foreign Office officials during its visit to London).
- Sir Andrew Ryan's account of his meeting with Ibn Saud at Taif in July 1934, and their discussion of the 'blue line' (the frontier which marked the Ottoman Government's renunciation of its claims to Bahrain and Qatar, in the Anglo-Ottoman convention of 1913) and the Kuwait blockade.
- Details of several meetings held at the Foreign Office between Fuad Bey Hamza (Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs for Saudi Arabia), Sir Andrew Ryan and George William Rendel (Head of the Foreign Office's Eastern Department), during September 1934, regarding the 'blue line', the Kuwait blockade, and the future of the Treaty of Jedda (the treaty signed between Britain and Ibn Saud in 1927).
- Requests from the Italian Government for information regarding Fuad Bey Hamza's visit to London.
The volume features the following principal correspondents: His Majesty's Agent and Consul at Jedda, a position that was raised to His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires to Jedda in late 1929 (Hugh Stonehewer Bird, William Linskill Bond, Cecil Gervase Hope Gill, and Albert Spencer Calvert successively); His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan); His Majesty's Ambassador in Rome (Ronald William Graham); Ibn Saud; Amir Faisal; officials of the Hejazi/Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs; officials of the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, and the 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. .
In addition to correspondence, the volume contains a copy of the minutes of a meeting of the Committee of Imperial Defence's Standing Official Sub-Committee for Questions Concerning the Middle East. The meeting, which took place in London on 8 November 1934, was primarily concerned with the settlement of the 'blue line' issue, the Saudi- 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, and the Kuwait blockade.
The volume includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (453 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 for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 449; these numbers are written in pencil 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. The front and back covers, along with the two leading and two ending flyleaves, have not been foliated.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.' [136v] (283/914), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2087, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066378256.0x000054> [accessed 12 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100066378256.0x000054
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100066378256.0x000054">Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.' [‎136v] (283/914)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100066378256.0x000054"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000271/IOR_L_PS_12_2087_0283.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000271/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2087
- Title
- Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:iv-v, 3r:78v, 80r:96v, 100r:151v, 153r:218v, 220r:227v, 229r:238v, 240r:240v, 242r:242v, 244r:247v, 249r:255v, 258r:286v, 288r:293v, 298r:316v, 320r:362v, 364r:366v, 370r:371v, 373r:406v, 409r:422v, 424r:426v, 428r:448v, v-r:vi-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence