File 87/1926 Pt 1 'Arabia: Bin Saud; Title; Recognition as King of the Hedjaz' [‎118r] (229/306)

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been from the beginning since he left i^raohi saying thing
opposed to the Khilafat Committee policy and resolutions ana
I had to protest. 3 ut then he promised to present and sup
port the IChilafat Comrr.ittee resolutions only. Inat vas
however just to deceive and on our way back from
asked by me he definitely refused to present the khilafat
resolutions saying that the fall of Medina, Xeddah and Yamboo
fogether with the study of Hedjaz had altered his views - a
damned lie as even before that he had been like a sneak say
ing those (things). His motives I believe to be mercenary,
personal and sectarian (he is at heart an Ahl-i-Ha ees .
situation became very delicate and awkward. Already tbe
Syrians round about Ibne Saud and the Ahl-i-Hadees of in.ia
were working for his kingship here. The sycophants from
Hodjas were another danger. Then Ibne Saud himself v^as not
above harbouring such designs. How could you light against
all these with one of your men turning traitor. In f^t he
must have communicated his views to the Ahl-i-Hadees group
Meooa and it must have played some part in
situation which arose yesterday and about which I will wri e
later. To come back to Zafar Ali. b'hen he flatly refused
tro present the Khilafat demands and ridiculed the idea of
world Huilim Conference too, Haulana Irfan and I, two ol the
three members of the Delegation, agreed that it would be in
advisable and defeat the objects of the O.K*Committee if we
stayed under the circumstances and decided to return to
India with some sensible excuse without creating any mis
understanding here or in India. Accordingly we sent a tele
gram to Bombay. But X knew Cafar Ali and thought the ^ellov
mi^ht go back on his words and tell a lie. I wanted to
have him commit himself on paper by confirming the summary
of our conversation re his attitude towards the Ahi^ala
demands. The fellow, xjhen he learnt that the responsibility
of return to India was to fall on him, began to texi lies
and perivaricate (sic). He changed ground several times
but one thing was clear, he did not warit P r ® S 3 ? t 4 , t y e y ® 80
lutions, fair moans of foul. I informed .he knixa^at ana
was waiting for their final instructions when friend J-Dne
Saud got himself proclaimed King of Hedjaz yesterday, cf
course it was tt the repeated requests cf He^azia.
was a bayat, a promise to act according to the Book and the
Sunnah. There may also be oreated a Legislative Assem ly
for Hedjaz. But all this is bunkum. The whole_|how was
got up. It was a prearranged plan. The do not
want him. I have nn fort nine* 73 , 3 ^ fir as hand. ine
situation is therefore changed and we cannot hut
leave. Of course we can protest, but the real deoiaion will
have to be taken by the Oocunittee in India.
placed in a very false poaition by the betrayal of I^ne Saud.
But so long as it stands firm by its principles it should
survive the storm that is bound to sweep across India
Ur Philby is again hore. I had a discussion with him
Rabigh and one! here, about the hoar East. Arabia and India
and surprised Mm by saying that no nation Is ever unfit to
manage Us owe affairs. But of his views later. .t.° r .^ he
present ho is probably staying, here in °°™®f C om-
Uoeul question and some concessions that some English
panies want to have in Majd and Hodjaz.