"ملف 61/11 IV (D 77) مسائل متنوعة خاصة بالحجاز ونجد" [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٨] (٣٦٦/٣١٢)

()
Enclosure 7 in No. 1.
Minister for Foreign Affairs to Sir A. Ryan.
(Telegraphic.) Mecca, January 28, 1932.
WITH reference to your note dated 28th January, I must express my
deep regret at its contents concerning decision given (and) that I should be
compelled, in accordance with the right and agreement made between us, to refuse
it and to consider it contradictory to the mutual understanding to which my
Government strictly adhere. Therefore the Government cannot agree to allow
the local authorities at Jedda to give permission for the departure of the slave
in question. With regard to the other points of your note, 1 will reply at a later
opportunity.
Enclosure 8 in No. 1.
Sir A. Ryan to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mecca.
(Teleoraphic.) Jedda, January 29, 1932.
f HAVE received the telegram sent by your Royal Highness on 28th January.
The respect of my Government for what is right and what they have agreed
to is known throughout the world. 1 cannot act contrary to their decision. I am
sending Bakhit to the sloop to-day. If local authorities raise any difficulty all
responsibility will lie with your Government.
E 795/314/25] No. 2.
Sir A. Ryan to Sir John Simon.—{Received February IT.")
(No. 62.)
gi r Jedda, February 1, 1932.
WITH reference to my telegram No. 15 of the 29th January relative to the
disposal of the ex-slave Bakhit, 1 have the honour to forward the following three
documents which complete up to date the correspondence enclosed in my despatch
No. 58 sent earlier that day :—
Translation of a telegram received from the Minister for foreign Aitairs at
1T5 p.m . on the 29th January;
Copy of paper presented to the port authorities at the moment of Bakhit s
embarkation at 41 5 p.m . that day.
Copy of telegram sent to Minister for Foreign Affairs in the evening of the
same day.
2. In view of the possible repercussions of this affair it may be well to
record what actually happened. When I sent my note to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs on the afternoon of the 28th January my intention was to make
no attempt to embark Bakhit until the 30th January, so that the authorities in
Mecca should have had time to communicate by wireless with Ibn Sand. As they
replied the same evening, I decided early on the 30th January to advance the
plan alreadv made, which was to send Bakhit to the usual embarkation place in
charge of Mr. Hope Gill and any other necessary members of the staff and to
embark him in the Legation launch for conveyance to His Majesty's sloop
" Penzance," unless the police, &c., offered such opposition as to amount to
forcible resistance. If such resistance were offered Mr. Hope Gill was to do
everything possible to prevent the man s falling* into the hands of the local
authorities and to brino- him back to the Legation pending consideration of the
next move. I saw nothing in the enclosed telegram from Mecca to necessitate any
alteration in the arrangements. I enclose a memorandum by Mr. Hope Gill
showing how T they were finally carried out.
3. I thank you, sir, on Mr. Hope Gill's behalf and my own for your telegram
No. 10 of the 30th January congratulating us on the successful embarkation of
the ex-slave. I may say that it was necessary to consider every possible
contingency and that certain risks had to be taken. Mr. Hope Gill and the other
members of my staff concerned deserve great credit for their handling of the