Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎238v] (476/544)

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LORD CURZON : The question has arisen over and over again with Afghanistan.
The Amir of Afghanistan has been trying to appoint representatives of his own to
foreign Courts, and the Russians were always trying to get him to agree to the appoint
ment of a Russian representative there. In the Anglo-Russian Convention we went so
far, if I remember right, as to allow that a commercial agent of Russia should be there,
but that was all. In the whole course of our relations with the Amir of Afghanistan
we have continually imposed restrictions upon his independence and sovereignty in
respect of representatives of foreign Powers at his Court.
MR. BALFOUR: That is harmonious, because we do not allow him to have what
relations he likes with foreign Courts. We specifically say the King of the Hejaz is to
have what relations he likes with anvbodv.
J %/
MR. SHUCKBURGH: We do not control the Hejaz, there is that difference.
LORD CURZON : You have raised an important point which had not occurred to
me. You mean, that while we are saving that our representatives there, or the repre
sentative of any foreign Power there, should only be, so to speak, a consular agent,
and should not have any diplomatic status, there is nothing to prevent the King ot the
Hejaz from sending a Minister to Paris or London ?
MR. BALFOUR : To look behind words and at things, there is nothing to prevent
the gentleman who goes out as a commercial agent making what proposals he likes upon
any subject under Heaven, so that it is all a sham, really. The real essence of the
thing is this : No. 3 says plainly that he is to manage his own foreign affairs. Then it
does not matter what you do after that. The French will send in a man to look after
their traders, and if that man discusses general politics you cannot stop him, and you
cannot complain.
LOUD CURZON : Are we not getting into a position in which the King of the
Hejaz will say : “ 1 am a King, you have recognised my independence; you call me ‘ His
Majesty/ I have full power to send an Ambassador or a Minister to London or Paris or
Rome, and I propose to do so.” But, meanwhile, we have disabled ourselves from
having any corresponding man at his Court, and would have to put up with a small
person living at Jeddah and exercising functions in regard to pilgrims and trade alone.
That is an anomalous position.
LORD ROBERT CECIL : The reason why it was not provided for was that it
was never suggested that he should send an agent to any Power. I agree, if that
question arose, he certainly ought not to be allowed to do so. I think he ought to be
kept as perfectly independent, but not having any diplomatic existence ; that is to say,
we ought not to interfere with him at all. The whole reason for not interfering is that
we do not want it to be said that, being a religious personage, he is under the control
of any other Power at all, or under the influence of any other Power. The whole
object of that will be gone if he sets out to make alliances with foreign Powers.
MR. BALFOUR : We cannot prevent it, under clause 3.
LORD CURZON : Can we put it in clause 5 ? Clause 5 is now confined to the
status of our representatives. It runs : “ It would follow, and should be stipulated,
that any agents kept bv the Powers in the Hejaz should have no diplomatic status or
functions, but should be confined to purposes connected with the pilgrimage or trade.
Correspondingly, the King of the Hejaz should not be represented by diplomatic
representatives at foreign Courts.”
LORD ROBERT CECIL : Would it not be enough to say, “ by the Powers in the
Hejaz or by the Hejaz at foreign Courts ” ?
MR. BALFOUR : Is it not more of a sham than is permissible to be put into a
series of resolutions ? You say : “ You are not going to be controlled.” If you say
you are going to send commercial agents there, you cannot prevent him sending com
mercial agents here. To say that that agent is not to wear a particular uniform, is not
to be accredited to the King—which is all you do by saying he is not to be a diplomatic
representative—is mere camouflage. There is nothing in it at all. He can negotiate
how he likes; by letter, if he likes.
MR. MONTAGU : If that view is adopted, would you take out the last sentence
in N o. 5 ?