File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎211v] (427/898)

2
o
He has in fact, not attempted to, except in the monarchy. It would not be difficult to
show that the hardest political and administrative problems he has had to face in the last few
years arise out of the duality of his kingdom and will continue to do so. It would be pure
sentimentality to suppose that the new title effects any radical change. The unified kingdom
looks well on the map, but that means little to Ibn Saud.
7 The King should now be on his way back from Kiyadh to the Hejaz, where he will
in all probability meet Sir Gilbert Clayton early in May in order to continue the converse
tions with Great Britain interrupted in Decembei last.
8. Relations with European countries remain much the same as they were. The
Italian consul, Commendatore Fares (see paragraph 7 of the March report), returned to the
Hejaz after a couple of days with Commendatore Gaspermi in Asmara, and announced that
instead of retiring from his post in July, as he had hoped, the Governor of Eritrea had
persuaded him to remain on in Jeddah until next year. This may mean that the Italians
consider Commendatore Fares a suitable representative of Italian interests should they
decide to settle on a permanent basis their relations with Ibn Saud. Fares is old, but his
knowledge of the Red Sea area is very sound. >
9. There is some talk of Turkey in due course approaching Ibn Saud about negotia
tions to define mutual relations. The negotiations would be conducted by the present
Turkish representative, Suleiman Shevket Bey, whose status would be decided during them.
The above report is not confirmed, but sounds authentic. If any agreement is airived at
between Ibn Saud'and Turkey, it is probable that it will be on general terms of friendship
only. Suleiman Shevket Bey remarked the other day that his country had now no special
interest in the Hejaz. . ^ .
10. The claims tribunal set up in Palestine under the Hadda Agreement m December
last to settle inter-tribal raids and looting is not making easy progress. The Hejaz-Nejd
Government, under the guidance of Sheikh Youssef Yassin, Acting Foreign Minister, wishes
the present meeting to "deal only with claims since Ramadan, 1343, date from which the
tribes on both sides of the frontier were warned that they would be held responsible, he
says, for looting. A balance struck at that date would show, I believe, a^substantial credit
of camels, looted 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 tribesmen, in favour of their Nejd rivals. At the
same time, however, 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 delegates to the tribunal have claimed that judgment
should include raids since the occupation of Jauf in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sirhan by Ibn Baud’s forces.
The Hejaz-Nejd delegates have not been able to refuse to consider these earlier claims,
which are mostly in favour of 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 ; but Sheikh Youssef appears to intend to postpone
having them adjudicated as far as possible, and at the same time denounces 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
claims as fabrications and exaggerations. The tribunal must be a very difficult instrument
to handle, chiefly because the Hejaz-Nejd authorities look on the court, and the claims put
before it, in a very special light. As far as 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 -Nejd Tribunal is concerned,
Sheikh Youssef Yassin seems to consider the proceedings more as an international con
ference, m which political honour and appetite are involved, rather than as a court o
assize. As far as can be judged, the King himself wishes the tribunal to succeed. On ms
return it will be known whether the tribunal will adjourn until August or break o
inconclusively.
11. Preparations for the Iraq-Nejd Tribunal, which is to be held at Koweit, are
meanwhile going forward. . , |
12. With regard to the Yemen, the Acting Foreign Minister told me the other T
that the situation on the southern frontier was quite calm. He said that it was true tha m
Imam had concentrated troops, but that the concentration w T as to deal with unrest in au
(near Nejran). In Jeddah rumours of local fighting in Asir have died out. ^ er am /
looks as though, for the time being, trouble will not develop between the Imam and Ibn aim
There was, however, some time ago, a report that Ibn Baud was bringing wit lim .
Mecca, on his return, 10,000 Nejdian troops, w T ho would stay in the vicinity 0 ^jj
during the pilgrimage and then be ready for use, if necessary, in the south. 1
remain to be seen. Ibn Saud cannot help but be preoccupied with the Imam unti e -
question is settled. . , e _
13. An official statement is issued to the effect that Ibn Saud has no ofhcia r
sentative either at Angora or in Rome. . . T c i flm ic
14. The “ Umm-el-Kura ” states that Sharaf Adnan Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , president of t ie
Conference, has received a telegram from Shu’aib Kurashi, in India, to say that e nce
branch of the Islamic Conference (i.e., the continuation of last year’s Islamic on^ ^
in Mecca), has been established in Bombay, and that the delegates for^the
Hejaz have been chosen. He enquired whether invitations to this year s s ® s ^ < ? I1 n Con
sent out. Sharaf Adnan ignored the telegram, but telegraphed instead to Sheik ^ ^ j n
bin-Nadawi that, as Shu’aib Kurashi and the Ali brothers were carrying on propag