Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎237v] (474/544)

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LORD CURZON : This is the first time that in these arrangements we are
endeavouring to make about these Eastern territories we have brought in the League
of Nations. I do not know why it is brought in. If you bring in the League of
Nations solelv with the object of giving us a disquisition about arms, they will not be
content with that alone. They will say, “If you want us to go into the Hejaz, you
ought only to go there, in whatever capacity you go, as our emissary.” Why bring
them in here at all ?
LORD ROBERT CECIL : You might leave them out, but you might have to
bring them in sooner or later.
MR. MONTAGU: I think No. 9 should read : “ The Powers should declare that
they will not object to the Hejaz Government importing for its own use a reasonable
quantity of arms and ammunition annually, provided that the Government of thellejaz
adheres to the other terms of the convention'' and leave out all the rest. If Lord Robert
Cecil is right, we could prevent the Hejaz Government, by blockade, from getting too
many arms ; what do you want to put it in for at all ?
LORD CURZON : I think it gives a ground of protest if the King of the Hejaz
proceeds to do what he would certainly do, unless checked.
MR.* MONTAGU : We should say, “ If you are selling them right and left, the
amount you are importing is unreasonable, and we have only allowed you a reasonable
quantity.”
LORD ROBERT CECIL : We must say, “ You will not be allowed to export <
private individuals unless you get a licence to do so.”
LORD CURZON : I think it is worth while keeping it in.
SIR HAMILTON GRANT : Who is to & ive t e
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Then we had better have the licence out. Will you
say simply that we will ration arms, and then he can do anything he likes with them ?
SIR HAMILTON GRANT : Would it not be better to hold over the special
question of the Hejaz arms until the main arms question is settled by an international
convention, and then adjust that, so far as it would be necessary, to the Plejaz ? We
do not know what the international convention is going to be at present, and this
question must be based more or less on that international convention. Are we not
rather putting the cart before the horse ? There would have to be a special arrange
ment for the Hejaz, and I think we should hold that question over.
LORD CURZON : When will you get the international convention ?
MR. SHUCK BURGH : It is in draft now.
LORD CURZON : But how far have you gone with the other Powers ?
MR. SHUCKBURGH : Nothing at all.
LORD CURZON : At the end of the war the King of the Hejaz might import an
enormous quantity of arms, in order to put down the various rivals to his position
inland. You want to have some check upon him, do you not?
MR. SHUCKBURGH: Yes.
LORD CURZON : While the war is going on he has an excuse for a large import
of arms, but after the war we want to check it.
MR. BALFOUR : I suppose you could not possibly allow him to import arms and
make war upon the people you do not allow to get arms ? 1 hat would be an impossible
business, would it not, if you found him using his arms against Ibn Saud, for instance .
LORD CURZON : Ibn Saud gets arms as it is.
MR. MONTAGU: A reasonable quantity of arms. Sir Arthur Hirtzel says it
would be the Government of the Hejaz that would issue the licence. I think it would
be better to leave the words out, because, as it stands, it presupposes such a lot ol
things.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Would it not be better to leave this matter over until
we see what we get out of the arms convention, and let clause 9 run in this way . It