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' [‎161r] (328/769)

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2. The object for which I was delegated by the ‘Iraq Government
and attached to your Mission is to help you in your task by indicating
the point of view of the ‘Iraq Government in those matters under
discussion between you and the Sultan of Nejd.
3. In a letter to me from the ‘Iraq Minister of Foreign Affairs,
No. 2494, dated the 8th September, 1925, it is stated that the out
standing matters between Nejd and ‘Iraq, which were not settled at
the Kuweit Conference, were described in detail in the High Com
missioner’s despatch to the Colonial Office, dated the 12th March,
1925,* and that the letter of the Chief of the Royal Cabinet No.
6/19/4/S, dated the 22nd November, contained the views of the ‘Iraq
Government on the questions discussed at the Kuwait Conference
and the instructions which had been issued to the ‘Iraq delegate at
that Conference. I was asked to take into special consideration
the points mentioned in those two letters. In view of these, it is
clear that the point of view of the ‘Iraq Government in those out
standing affairs is such as was described in the instructions issued to
you wherein you were given the primary responsibility in the conduct
of negotiations. At the same time I may summarise all the essential
points as follows :—
(a) The punishment of tribes who raid the territory of the other
party and the placing of the responsibility on their Sheikhs.
(5) The abstention by armed forces of either country from pursuing
offenders across the frontier.
(c) The withholding of permission to Sheikhs and Chiefs of tribes
holding official positions and flags or badges to display those signs
when they cross the frontier.
(d) The abstention on the part of both Governments from corre
spondence with tribes subject to the other Government except
through the inspectors of boundaries.
(e) The recognition by the two contracting parties of the misunder
standings, envy and malice which result from the encouragement and
enticing of tribes into the other territory, and their mutual agreement
that they will discourage by every possible means, other than actual
expulsion or the use of force, the movement of tribes or tribesmen
from one territory into the other except with the consent of the
Government to whom they are subject; and their agreement to
abstain from giving presents in money or in kind to refugees from
the other country and to look with disfavour on any of their subjects
who might encourage tribes from the other territory to immigrate
into their own territory.
(/) The non-acceptance of the extradition of non-political offenders
and the refusal on the part of ‘Iraq to return the refugee tribes from
Nejd on the understanding that the ‘Iraq Government will take more
suitable measures than they have hitherto taken to prevent the Nejd
tribes at present in ‘Iraq from raiding Nejd; and that efforts should
be made to persuade Ibn Sa‘ud of the good intentions of the ‘Iraq
Government in this matter.
(g) The appointment of inspectors of boundaries on the part of
both Governments, although little importance is attached to this
point owing to the doubtful value of such officials. But there is no
objection to persuading Ibn Sa‘ud to agree to their appointment.