File 1166/1925 'Arabia: Nejd; negotiations with Ibn Saud regarding Iraq-Nejd question and Trans-Jordan boundary; Sir G Clayton's mission; Bahra agreement, 2nd November, 1925' [‎133r] (272/769)

I repeated to I bn Sa ud that my instructions were explicit in
regard to the northern boundary, but added that I was prepared to
discuss any questions, such as that ot the development and protection
of trade, regarding which His Highness might think it advisable for
his staff to draw up proposals for consideration.
I then suggested that if we postponed further discussion till later
in the day we might perhaps advance a step nearer agreement in
matters upon which we now differed. Ibn Sa‘ud agreed and thought
it would help matters if I were to consider his arguments on paper,
to which I agreed, adding that I was naturally anxious to conclude
negotiations as soon as possible so that His Highness could attend
to the arduous duties his large kingdom entailed, and I to my affairs
eisewhere. -
I then drew Ibn Sa'ud’s attention to a report in my possession of
his meeting with Sir Percy Cox in November, 1922, when the
frontier question was discussed and general agreement reached It
was true that since that date the question of Kaf had arisen,’ but
nevertheless His Highness’ advisers had now put forward a
memorandum which made claims greatly in excess of those admitted
at that interview. Ibn Sa‘ud stated that no definite demand had
been made at that time, but Sir Percy Cox had made certain pro
posals which Ibn Sa‘ud had agreed to accept, not as a frontier, but
as a basis for discussion and negotiations.
Ibn Sa‘ud said that he would prefer, if possible, that at the next
meeting we should endeavour to clear the question of Trans-Iordan
and he desired to know whether the question of Kaf was to be re
considered or was now settled in his favour. I replied that he must
put orward proposals which would stand some chance of being
acceptable to His Majesty’s Government, who had strong and valid
reasons for wishing to include Kaf in Trans-Jordan. So far he had
not done so, and I considered that he would have to retreat from the
position which he had taken up in the matter if he wished to avoid a
deadlock. I had stated the wishes and requirements of His Majesty’s
xovernment, which could not be modified unless he was able entirely
to remove the apprehensions to which they were due.
Ibn Sa ud was of opinion that this procedure had its faults The
onf K°? u° n u T 1 ? 8- ^ northern P art of the boundary was a difficult
one but he had already expressed his views concerning Kaf and had
made the suggestions for which he had been asked. '
settled quickly UeSti ° n 3 comparativel y eas y one and could be
The meeting then ended, having lasted from 9 a.m. till 11 a.m.
Third Meeting.
The third meeting took place on Tuesday, the 13th October in
my leception tent at 9 a.m., and was attended by Ibn Sa‘ud Sheikh
Yusuf Yasin, Sheikh Hafiz Wahba, Mr. Antonius and myself.
! opened the proceedings by asking permission of His Highness
to say a few words of a general nature. Up to the present we had
discussed the isolated question of Kaf at considerable length I had
already told H,s Highness quite frankly what Hi S g Majesty’s
Government wanted and explained their reasons. His Highness, on