File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎71r] (146/898)

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Oil the 17th December the evacuation of the western portion to a depth of about
15 miles was also reported complete.
9. On the 5th December a note was addressed to Ibn Sand in reply to his
protest in regard to the action taken vis-a-vis of the Awazim tribe, who with the
consent of His Majesty s Government had been given a formal assurance of
protection by the Sheikh of Koweit, and had been ordered to move up to the Jahrah
\irea (November report, paragraph 2). It was explained to the King that, in the
view of His Majesty’s Government, the Awazim, having surrendered to Feisal-ed-
Dawish, could no longer be regarded as part of the King’s forces, but they equally
could not be regarded as insurgents. The attitude of His Majesty’s Government
was not, therefore, inconsistent either with their decision not to allow Ibn Sand’s
forces to cross the frontier or with their undertaking not to allow the rebels to find
refuge in Koweit. Furthermore, according to the statements of the leading Awazim
sheikhs, if refuge had not been granted them, their only alternative would have been
to throw in their lot with the rebels and to fight against the King, a course which
they had wished to avoid. In the circumstances, it had appeared to be entirely in
the King’s interests that the Awazim should be definitely neutralised by admission
into Koweit territory.
10. As regards the King’s request for their expulsion, this, it was explained,
could be only effected by the use of force, and His Majesty’s Government considered
that it was impossible to contemplate such a breach of the obligations which the
Sheikh of Koweit had assumed when he gave the Awazim permission to escape
from the rebels by taking refuge in his territory. Nor were His M'ajesty’s Govern
ment of the opinion, in view of the considerations mentioned above, that their
pledges to Ibn Sand necessitated any such action in the present case.
11. In point of fact, the Awazim did not avail themselves of the permission
accorded to enter Koweit territory, but remained encamped in the neutral area,
meanwhile drawing their supplies from Koweit. An ultimatum was, therefore,
addressed to them by the Sheikh of Koweit on the 8th December ordering them to
enter the Koweit tribal area within ten days, failing which they would be regarded
as part of the belligerent forces and would be refused access to Koweit territories
and denied supplies.
12. On the 19th December a reply was received from the Awazim stating that,
in the event of Ibn Sand moving northwards, they would be afraid to enter Koweit
territory; in the contrary event, they would go in later, as their camels were then in
poor condition. In view of this, the Awazim were treated as being part of the
contending forces and were denied supplies from Koweit. The immediate result
was that they commenced raiding inside Koweit territory; three raids were reported
before the end of the month. It was suggested that this action was taken by the
Awazim in order to regain favour with Ibn Sand.
13. On the 18th Hecember letters were addressed by the King to His Majesty’s
political resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and His Majesty’s political agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Koweit
in reply to the representations made to him at the beginning of the month. He stated
that he did not intend to cast doubts on the intentions of His Majesty’s Government
and gratefully acknowledged the material assistance given. The only thing of which
he complained was that the rebels were freely obtaining supplies from, and were
watering their animals in, Koweit. If His Majesty’s Government made investiga
tions they would, he said, be convinced of the truth of his allegations regarding the
encouragement received by the rebels from high quarters in Bagdad; it was, however,
unnecessary to discuss these matters further. He thanked His Majesty s Government
for the orders issued to eject the rebels from Koweit, Iraq and 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 which,
if enforced, would render it unnecessary for his forces to enter neighbouring
territory. He proposed to launch an attack against Dawish, and would inform the
nearest military stations on the frontier of any fresh changes and. developments.
Meanwhile, he renewed his protest regarding the action taken vis-a-vis of the
Awazim. He added in his letter to His Majesty’s political agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Koweit that
Dawish had asked him for pardon and security, and that he had promised him his
life on condition that he returned all plunder. This Dawish had refused. .
14. Five raids by Hejaz-Nejd subjects are reported on the 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
frontier. As against these, ten raids, mostly of minor importance, are repo rte d by
the Hejaz Government to have been committed by 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 tribes against Hejaz-
^^15. On the 5th December a letter, dated the 23rd November, was received from
the King protesting against the persistent raids committed by the 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
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