File 87/1926 Pt 2 'Arabia: Bin Saud: Relations with H.M.G. Revision of Treaty.' [‎502r] (691/840)

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as a protege (no less than was Husain) of the British
Government suspect and dislike him for that reason.
Apart from this direct interest in him,
India has a certain historical interest, for before
the war and down to 1921 political relations with
him were conducted entirely hy the Government of
India; and as I have championed his cause against
a variety of enemies for some 15 years I may perhaps
he forgiven for feeling a certain sentimental
concern in his future welfare.
But we have to he careful. By taking tae
Hejaz hy force Ihn Saud has made it very difficult,
if not impossible, for us to help him. It is
true that he has said (paragraph 23 of Sir G. Clayton* s
report) ’’that he would he prepared to hand it over
to any authority approved hy the I'oslem world in
general”; hut that belongs to a somewhat remote
f uture • More over, he ha s a 1 s ' de cl are o w itn t ne
utmost solemnity in full durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). that he will nave no
political relations with any Po er except Great
Britain. To conclude a treaty with him in present
circumstances would therefore apparently oe to give
Great Britain precisely that monopoly ot interest i-.
the