Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.' [‎149r] (308/914)

proceeded to make a suitable little speech of farewell. After hearing it, the
King said he had something further to speak about. His Majesty’s Government
were worried about restrictions on trade with Koweit. AVhat of restrictions on
trade with Nejd ? I asked what he meant and found that he referred to the action
taken at Bahrein m regard to direct shipments to the Hasa Coast, and was under
impression that ££ the Government ” had prohibited such shipments. On my
asking whether ne meant His Majesty’s Government or the Bahrein Government
he laughed scornfully at the mention of the latter. I said that I knew of only one
incident, in which the Bahrein Government had taken action to prevent an abuse
of the facilities afforded by Bahrein, by a ship which had tried to take advantage
of these facilities to land cargo at Bahrein and so lighten herself sufficiently to be
able to land cargo on the Hasa coast, where the ports were not equipped to
receive cargoes in the ordinary way. I observed that the ship had proceeded
before the matter could be referred to higher authority, but that His Majesty’s
Government had subsequently proposed a discussion of the whole subject of
transit, including that of direct shipments to the mainland. The Saudi Govern
ment had rejected this proposal, and, on receipt of a further communication from
the Legation, had transferred the negotiations to London, with the result that I
had not been concerned in them for nearly two years.
23. The King was insistent that no obstacles should be placed in the way of
direct shipment to his ports. If it was a question of port equipment, he said, he
could complete the equipment in two months, but what would be the good, if ships
were prevented from taking cargo to Has Tanura ? And why should that port
be treated differently from Debai, Basra or any other port? He asked for an
assurance that, if he did equip Ras Tanura, ships should not be prevented from
going there. Indeed, at one moment he asked that they should be told to go there,
to which I replied that His Majesty’s Government could not in normal times
direct the movements of ships. I pressed him on the subject of the alleged
prohibition and at last elicited the admission that he could not substantiate the
allegation, though he still evidently thought that an adverse attitude was being
taken up. I promised to report what he said, but adhered to my own view that
the Saudi Government would have done better to fall in with the proposal of His
Maiesty’s Government for a general discussion with the object of reconciling the
interest of Bahrein and the mainland by an agreement, which could, if necessary,
be made operative for a fixed time.
24. The chief interest of this discussion was the revelation it attordect or
the King’s bitter personal resentment. He threw out references which I did not
understand, to other countries like Japan, &c., and their attitude towards simi ai
problems. He clung to his grievance long after the latest hour at which he toM
me he could say his prayers. It was well after 9 when I was able to leave him.
25 Shortly before 10, Sheikh Yussuf called again to deliver the Aiab
clothes; which I had consented to receive At 4 a.m. next day he was on the spot
once more to see me off. I delayed my departure a s 01 , , m !t rejno-’c nxietv
about the Bahrein question. I said I had been impressed by the King s amxiety
to treat the questioS of direct shipments as a separate issue I did n °t wmh Hm
Majesty to think that I had been difficult the previous evening, and assured him
% 0 6 m ^'he^foregoino' I1 accouiffi 0 of^im^ is accurate on all
main points, but if no? an exact record of all that passed, asjegards the
sequence of the individual discussions. For one ? • i ng . speeches
from well, and the King tried him very high, by del vermg long speeches,
impossible to render m all their details af er e ^dj^^ f f ture trou bl e
omitted various non-essentials, e.g., the King, Parham Shakespear, in
in Northern Arabia, referred to conversations wUh Captain bha^espea
which he had similarly foreshadowed the G^tWar, in § them
friendship for His Majesty’s Government e ,, t p at jq; s Majesty’s
as being unaffected by the suggestion of Turks and others that His J y
Government were, in reality, hostile to nim. King is genuinely
27. The general impression 1 derived ^^“^GLernment, but
desirous of consolidating his position ms a ■ their policy notably their
is extremely bitter over " recenL^
attempt to impose on him the blue line. . appearance m his
Bahrein question, because all that he has g ra P , , Xanura and to keep
eyes of an attempt to boycott his endeavours to develop Kas ianuia