File 87/1926 Pt 2 'Arabia: Bin Saud: Relations with H.M.G. Revision of Treaty.' [‎487r] (661/840)

principle oe regarded as the Department primarily responsible
for dealing with questions of policy in Arabia and therefore
the Department whose view should normally prevail
As regards the question who would deal with
Parliamentary Questions relating to Ibn Saud, the general
view of the Conference was that, in deference to Ibn Saud f s
expressed wish that hia relations should be with the
Foreign Ofiice, such questions should normally be answered
by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, but that the
Colonial Office should furnish the material for the replies.
(2) hevifripn wf the Treaty with Ihn Smid.
Sir J. »hiuchbundi said tnat it was clear that
the existing Treaty between Hia Majesty’s Government and
Ibn Saud was no longer appropriate and would have to be
revised* It was agreed tnat a polite message should be sent
to Ibn Saud informing him that Sir G. Clayton had reported
his desire for a revision of the treaty: that H*iuG* realised
that the circumst nces had changed and that it was desirable
to revise the treaty; and that a coimninication on the subject
would be addressed to him very shortly.
ax. Sprint dice suggested that the new treaty
should contain as litule detail as possible, and urged that
as the whole negotiation of the treaty must be largely a
matter of tactics, it would be desirable before making any
definite proposals to have the views of Sir Clayton who
was already on the way back to tSngland from Aden. Subject
to this reservation, he proposed the undermentioned subjects
as suitable for inclusion in the treaty, and these were
agreed to provisionally and subject to certain reservations
shown in the notes.
(a) declaration of perpetual peace and friendship,
(b)