File 87/1926 Pt 2 'Arabia: Bin Saud: Relations with H.M.G. Revision of Treaty.' [‎532r] (751/840)

in certain instances additions and omissions had been made in the
draft put forward by His Highness which affected the principle
which I had already clearly informed him 1 was unable to accept;
in other respects there were differences that were hardly more than
differences of wording.
As regards the alterations which affected the matter of principle, I
was unable to agree to the insertion or omission of anything in my
draft which might in any way tend to introduce a principle which I
^ W as unable to accept, and I must request that in this respect my
draft be adhered to; in regard to the matter of wording I suggested
that points of this nature could be settled by Mr. Antonius in consul
tation with Sheikhs Hafiz and Yusuf.
After some discussion Ibn Sa‘ud expressed himself ready to give
way on the points which I considered essential, and agreed that
minor questions of wording should be dealt with by the committee
suggested.
I expressed my appreciation of the attitude which His Highness
had now taken up in the matter, and the meeting closed.
Eighth Meeting.
The eighth meeting was held on the evening of Wednesday, the
21st October, at 8 p.m., when 1 had an interview with His Highness,
at which Mr. Antonius and Sheikh Hafiz were present. After a
short interchange of the usual compliments and small talk, I informed
him that I wished to speak to him in a general manner on issues that
had arisen as a result of our conversations, more particularly those
regarding the Trans-Jordan frontier. I had given very carelu
consideration to this particular question in the light of our very ful
discussions on the various objects of my mission.
I felt that possibly I might not have explained the attitude of His
Majesty’s Government sufficiently clearly to His Highness. All
these questions had been very fully discussed at various conferences
and in correspondence, and His Majesty’s Government s instruc
tions to me were the outcome of very careful consideration and study
of the claims and interests of all parties concerned. These instruc
tions, then, comprised the considered view of His Majesty s Govern
ment as to the settlement which they maintained would be fair and
just to all. His Majesty’s Government had not expected that their
proposals would be the subject of protracted bargaining and de
tailed discussion, but they had sent me here m the confident hope
that His Highness would give earnest of his friendly disposition by
receiving their offers in the spirit in which they were put forward.
I had placed His Majesty’s Government’s requirements clearly
before His Highness and had explained very fully the reasons on
which they were based. His Highness had replied by adducing
historical and political arguments which, however, were not new and
had already received, together with very opposite opinions advanced
from other quarters, the full consideration of His Majesty s CK > ve i* n -
ment and also of myself, as their Envoy. His Highness had also
urged His Majesty’s Government’s previous statements in respect of
Kaf and I had explained the grounds on which they had changed
their attitude. Further, His Highness had also repeatedly assure
me of his truly friendly feelings towards Great Britain and of his
sincere desire for full understanding and co-operation with His