File 87/1926 Pt 2 'Arabia: Bin Saud: Relations with H.M.G. Revision of Treaty.' [‎565r] (817/840)

EASTERN (Arabia).
CONFIDENTIAL.
[January 18, 1926. j
Section 1.
o o ^
COO
N04.- L C
'*[£ 364/180/91]
Aciinj Consul Jordan to Sir Austen Chamberlain.—.(Received January 18, 1926.)
(No. L21. Secret and Confidential.) , ,, , T . , on i nor.
gj r ' Jeddah, December 29, 192o.
I HAVE the honour to report that on the afternoon of the 17th instant, whilst.
the negotiations for the submission of Jeddah were proceeding between the bnltan
Abdul Aziz and myself, be took the opportunity, whilst waiting for the translators to
finish their work, to talk of the situation in and around the frontiers of the territory
occupied tQ s . a anfl the rev0 | t ; n t i ie Jebel Druse, he stated that he had (
received many appeals for assistance, but that he would not interfere, and intended to
follow the British policy in all respects as regards that part of the world. Further, he
stated that a great deal of Bolshevik money was being supplied to the insurgents, who,
though not Bolshevik themselves, were only too glad to avail themselves of the help
thus afforded. He continued, and under great secrecy for the British Government only,
to inform me that the headquarters of the Bolshevik organisation was in Damascus
and .carried on from the Persian consulate-general. He assured me that he was certain
of this information, and had received it from a most reliaole source.
3. As regards Irak, he stated that he had heard nothing but most favourable
reports of the situation in that country, and no trouble was to be feared there at
present—excluding, of course, tribal raids and suchlike, which were but normal
4 lie expressed great concern, for Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan and Palestine, and earnestly wis ies
to warn the British Government of danger from that quarter where he stated,
Bolshevik money and influence were gaining ground. He several times reiterated t ns
warning and appeared most sincere. , , , ,
5 ' As f>r the Yemen and Asir (Idrissi country), he stated that he was on terms
of friendship with both of them, but that the situation at present was uncert m and
difficult. I gathered that the trouble actually is the division of the Asir between
himself and the Imam Yahya, but he did not enlarge on this pomt.
6 With reference to my telegram No. 194 of the 28th December, 19-o, he later
showed a keen interest to know what actually was Sir Gilbert Clayton s mission to the
Imam, as practically any arrangements, other than on the southern boundary ot the
Yemen, will vitally aftect his interests m the Arabian peninsula. . , ,
■ 7 Continuing on the general subject of Bolshevism, he described a visit he had
received from a Bolshevik envoy during the course of hostilities with the Shenfs in
the Hejaz. It appears that after a long discussion on various sublets, the Bolshevik
envoy asked the Sultan in a most direct manner, “ What is it you most want on eaith .
Sultan Abdul Aziz explained that he was surprised at the directness of the question and
for a few moments did not answer, but eventually said, •Money, I suppose. Ibe
Bolshevik envoy stated that he was prepared to give him that, and what else i
want? The Sultan then replied, “Arms and ammunition lo which the Bolshe i
replied “And aeroplanes and guns also if you wish. ’ The Sultan, more and more surpr ised
at P the generosity of his visitor, then replied, “Yes, but what do you jant from me
To which the Bolshevik replied that of course there were certain conditions, but that
he did not think the Sultan would find them impracticable, and that all he wanted was
that the Sultan should “ make trouble with the British. . , ,
8 His Majesty the Sultan ended with again assuring me of his friendship and the
correctness of hii information and even went so far as to state that in case of trouble in
Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan he would assist His Majesty Government
9 Copies of this despatch have been sent to Palestine, Beirut and Cairo.
1 I have, Ac.
S. R. JORDAN.
[1172 s— 1 ]