File 87/1926 Pt 2 'Arabia: Bin Saud: Relations with H.M.G. Revision of Treaty.' [‎539v] (766/840)

46
was formerly a member of the Majlis klara of Ma‘an, and that 1 »
was well known to Ghalib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Sha'lan, the present Governor of
the Ma‘an district. I said to Ibn Sa'ud that I would enquire from
the authorities in Trans-Jordan and find out whether there was anv
objection on their part to his being- allowed to return. ‘ ^
The second was that of the Nejdi delegation which the Sultan was
proposing to send to India. Some two months ago, he had written
to the British Consul at Jedda asking him to find out whether visa>_
could be obtained to enable a Nejdi delegation to visit India, and y
month later a letter was received from the Consul asking, on behalf
of the Government of India, for the names of the proposed members
of the delegation. The names were sent at once, but although a
whole month had elapsed no reply bad yet been received. His High
ness went on to say that perhaps the Government of India were
objecting to Sheikh Hafiz* VVahba, one of the proposed members. I
replied that I would make a note of this and take the matter up with
the Consul at Jedda.
The third question was that of a harbour on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Ibn
SaTid said that he was dissatisfied with the anchorage of the ports at
present in use on the eastern seaboard of his dominions, and that he
was proposing to instal a quay and harbour at Ras Tannura, where
there was a good anchorage. He intended to communicate with the
British India line with a view to finding out whether they could come
to some arrangement with him whereby their ships would call regu
larly at Ras Tannura, and wanted to know whether there was any
objection on the part of His Majesty’s Government to his doing so.
I replied that I would find out and let him know.( 2 )
Lastly, Ibn Sa'ud said that he wished to obtain my advice on a
question of importance, and after some considerable circumlocution
revealed what was in his mind. He wanted to know what, in my
opinion, would be the effect on the Foreign Consuls and Powers of
an attack on Jedda, more especially if that attack were attended with
some damage and destruction. I replied, politely but explicitly, that
this was not a question on which I could offer an opinion without
departing from the neutrality that it was my duty to maintain ; and
that I declined to offer an opinion, even privately, on a question of
that kind.
I took my leave at 5 p.m.
That evening, at 7 p.m., the Sultan sent word that he was return
ing to Mecca and that he would presently call at my tent to bid me
farewell. He came with a large retinue ; and, standing in the open
a few paces away from our tents, he bade me a' long and extremely
cordial farewell, punctuated by repeated declarations of personal
friendship and of loyalty to His Majesty’s Government.
(*) On my way through Jedda I spoke to Mr. Jordan about this question and
gave him a brief note in which I expressed my views (note attached) and recom
mended that he should communicate them to the Government of India, which lie
did before I left Jedda. {Vide page 47).
( 2 ) I propose taking the matter up with the authorities at Bombay.