File 87/1926 Pt 2 'Arabia: Bin Saud: Relations with H.M.G. Revision of Treaty.' [‎251r] (189/840)

the draft treaty, article by article, he would be glad
to know what was Mr. Jordan's general opinion of it,
and whether he considered that it contained anything to
winch Ibn Saud would be likely to raise strong objection.
fir. Jordan, said that he did not anticipate any very
serious opposition except in the case of Article 6,
winch in his opinion Ibn 3aud would most certainly not
accept in its present form. Ibn Saud had never
admitted tne existence of foreign capitulations in the
Kejaz, and, whatever might be his personal feelings in
the matter, he would not be prepared to face the odium
of including in tue treaty anything woich savoured of
the capitulations or which might be represented as
interference with the Shari*a law which was applied
throughout his territories. In practice a procedure
similar to that cor :,e -ipi n : .. :.d in \rticie 6 was, at
present, followed in so far as British subjects were
concerned. /hen a British subject was in danger of
being brougnt before- tne Jhari' a Courts, he (Mr .Jordan)
as Acting British Consul, immediately got in touch with
ibn Jaud and arranged that the proceedings should be
staved until he had time to investigate the matter,
hitherto he had managed so to arrange maulers that no
triai of a British subject by a Jhari' a Court had
taken place. - r. Jpring _R ic& explained that the
Italian ^iabsssy had recently enquired verbally whether
His Majesty's Goveirrient would be willing to take
common action with them in seeding to assert their
capitulatory rights in the Hejaz. it had been decided
not to return a reply to this enquiry until the Italians
returned