File 87/1926 Pt 2 'Arabia: Bin Saud: Relations with H.M.G. Revision of Treaty.' [‎373r] (433/840)

Paper.
The views expressed in the Government
of India’s telegram of the 12th July do not differ
as regards fundamentals from those held here. As
regards details,their bearing will no doubt be discussed
by an Inter-Departmental conference in connexion with
the draft treaty received from the Colonial Office with
their letter of the 15th July. It will be noted that
this Draft treaty is a rather uni .pressive docu lent,
which will be reduced to even more limited dimensions
if the Government of India’s views are accepted in full.
It appears unnecessary to discuss the Government of
India’s suggestions in detail at this stage. Generally
speaking, they seem sound; but in two respects tney
appear to me doubtful -
(l) The Government of India propose that Article 5
of the 1915 agreement ( providing for free passage and
protection for pilgrims) snould be ’’amplified so as to
provide also for freedom of religious observances and ,
rites for "bslems of British nationality”. They consider,
I suppose, that such a provision would in the first
instance be appreciated by Indian Moslems, and not
resented as an interference in religious matters. But
even so it seems to me likely to lead to trouble.
Wahabi fanaticism is by all recent accounts on the
increase, and it is doubtful how far Ibn Saud with the
best intentions can hold it in check. It will no doubt
conflict to some extent with ’ freedom oi religious
observances and rites’ for Indian hoslens, and it see.s
very undesirable that the British Government should be
publicly committed in the direction of interference in any
resulting disputes. It seems doubtful whether Ibn
Department.
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Saud