File 87/1926 Pt 2 'Arabia: Bin Saud: Relations with H.M.G. Revision of Treaty.' [‎557v] (802/840)

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3. Although the situation in Arabia has been very considerably
modiiied during the last two years, the three principal questions with
which the Koweit Conference was concerned remain unsettled to-day
and it is with the primary object of disposing of the first two of
these questmns that the negotiations, in which you are to represent
His Majesty’s Government, have been initiated. As regards the first
question, that ot the delimitation of the frontier between Trans-Jordan
and Nejd, I am to enclose, for your information, a copy of the in
structions* communicated to Lieutenant-Colonel Knox prior to th—^
assembly of die Koweit Conference. You will see that at that tirr^
His Majesty’s Government were prepared to accept as a minimum an
eastern frontier for Trans-Jordan, which would rougly follow a line
drawn trom the intersection of meridian 39° with parallel 32° to the
intersection of meridian 37° with parallel 31 o 30'. From this point
the line follows meridian 37° to parallel 31°, thence to the intersection
ot meridian 38° with parallel 30°, and thence along meridian 38° to
parallel 29°35', or a point due west of the Nefud salient. This
frontier is indicated by a red line on the attached map.f Since this
frontier was decided upon the military advisers of His Majesty’s
(royernment have represented the importance, for strategical reasons
of including in Trans-Jordan the village of Kaf. His Majesty’s
Government are now satisfied of the desirability of this, and you
should use your utmost endeavours to secure the acceptance by Ibn
Sa ud of a frontier substantially identical with that indicated above
but including Kaf within Trans-Jordan territory.
4. From the telegramJ from Lieutenant-Colonel Knox, a copy of
which is appended, it appears likely that Ibn Sa'ud will advance a
claim to a frontier considerably to the west of the above line and
extending to the north of the Jebel Anaizeh. This frontier claim is
indicated by a green line on the attached map. Such a frontier would
involve the interposition of Nejd territory between ‘Iraq and Trans
jordan and would place Ibn Sa‘ud astride the Imperial Air Route to
the East. This cannot be permitted, and in no circumstances should
you assent to any extension of Nejd territory to the north, which
would have the effect of separating ‘Iraq from Trans-Jordan. You
will observe from the enclosed copy of the Traq-Nejd frontier agree
ment, with attached map, that the western extremity of this frontier
is the intersection of meridian 39° N. with parallel 32° E. The Eastern
frontier of Trans-Jordan should, in the opinion of His Majesty’s
Government, start from this point and be drawn rather in a westerly
or southerly direction than in a northerly.
5. In the southern sector of the eastern frontier of Trans-Jordan
Ibn Sa'ud’s claim appears equally objectionable since, in His Majesty’s
Government’s opinion, any more westerly trace than that proposed
could not be adopted without endangering the safety of the Trans
jordan section of the Hejaz Railway. You should, therefore, regard
the northern and southern extremities of the frontier line originally
proposed by His Majesty’s Government as fixed, and it would be
advisable to make this clear to Ibn Sa‘ud at the, outset of your dis
cussions. If, however, you are unable to induce Ibn Sa‘ud to acr r ee
to the inclusion of Kaf within Trans-Jordan, and if, in your opinion
further insistence on this point would be useless, you may in the
last resort concede that village to Nejd, in which case the frontier
*53811/23 ; not printed.
t Not reproduced.
£2565/24 ; not printed.