File 87/1926 Pt 2 'Arabia: Bin Saud: Relations with H.M.G. Revision of Treaty.' [‎304r] (295/840)

though it would certainly do so in Iraq. J e suggested
the cases were not quite parallel to that of the Hejaz
that in answering any such demands it oould be pointed out that
sintelndia was British territory and His Majesty's
Go vernraent maintained air services in Sgypt and Iraq, while
the Hejaz was entirely independent.
The foreign Office representatives supported
I bn Sa'ud's request for personnel since they wished to meet
his wishes so far as possible, and since he would no aoubt
be able to secure elsewhere what he required.
The Air Ministry representatives agreed that, even
if assisted by this country, Ibn Sa'ud’s air force would
not affect the military situation for some years. Ibn
Sa'ud had no mechanics of any hind and would require 2 pilots
and 6 mechanics to run a minimum air service.
The Conference agreed to recommend that the
minimum should be done to assist Ibn Sa'ud; that he should
be informed that his Majesty's Government were prepared to
a a si at hiato obtain the/aervioes of Z pilots and o
mechanics on personal contracts which must provide that they
would not be onnloyed on services out si Ie niu domains,
that the cost of maintaining hie aircraft in service would
be about £ 10.000 a year; that ae they were unable to assist
him to obtain Moslem pilots, Hie Majesty'a Government were
pleased to note from the list of plaoee which he had given
as those between which he desired to establish air services,
that he had no intention to bring the holy Places within the
sphere of the services; and that, if ihn ud wished to
proceed with the proposal, an officer woulu be senb to the
Hejaz at his expense to negotiate the contracts.
U
The