File 87/1926 Pt 2 'Arabia: Bin Saud: Relations with H.M.G. Revision of Treaty.' [‎535v] (758/840)

38
Thirteenth Meeting.
contained various amendments, additions and alterations in
'ument which
I had studied
that, while it
s in wording,
it did not oiler any basis for discussion. For the most part these
alterations had the effect of undermining and weakening the orin
c.ples laid down in my draft proposals, if not of making them entirely
ineffective. I feared, therefore, that I must reject them as a whole
1 pointed out that my draft proposals had been drawn up after full
discussion and careful study of the question from every point of view
and that they represented the limit to which I was able to go I
had gone a very long way towards meeting His Highness’ wishes
on the very important question of Kaf and had made a further eon
cession by moving the frontier line a few miles further to the north
of Kaf, in deference to His Highness’ request. I had stated that I
was also prepared to consider questions of trade facilities on the
northern frontier, though I was unable to do so on the lines sug
gested in the draft which had been submitted to me by his advisers.
1 was afraid that further discussion would only tend to confuse the
issue, and I asked His Highness again to think the matter over
very carefully and inform me whether or not he could accept my
draft proposals in their full spirit. If, as I sincerely hoped and
trusted would not be the case, His Highness found he could not
subscribe to those proposals and felt bound to reject them, then the
only course open to me was to discontinue discussions and take mv
departure. I wished to make it quite clear, as I had already stated
that my draft proposals must be treated as a whole and that if I
were forced to break off negotiations those proposals would be with
drawn as a whole and the situation, including the question of Kaf,
would he the same as when I arrived ; with the important exception’
that His Majesty’s Government would be unfavourably impressed by
the fact that the Envoy whom they had appointed to treat with His
Highness had been unable to reach an agreement, and that it was
unlikely that a similar opportunity would arise for arriving at an
understanding on the questions we had discussed. An unsuccessful
issue to my mission, which had been received here with such cordial
declarations of friendship and generous hospitalitv, would be a cause
of the deepest regret to me. I hoped that His Highness would give
1 ie matter his earnest consideration and let me know his decision as
soon as possible so as to enable me to make arrangements for mv
future movements.
Tbn Sa ud enquired if I would tell him my objections to his draft.
I obsei ved that it was not easy for me to criticise his draft with
out enteiing into detailed discussion, but that my general objection
was that the principles on -which my draft was based w^ere -weakened
and undermined. This applied chiefly to alterations in wording and
t° sentences included or omitted which, if not carefully studied,
might appear to have no particular significance, but which in effect
estroyed the efficacy of my proposais. There were one or two