الملف E/8 I ابن سعود [و‎‎١‎٢‎٥] (٦٠٦/٢٦٤)

(Received on the 30th March 1914 with Political Secretary's letter No. 11, dated the 13th
March 1914.)
TTJRKEY - [9th March.J
CONFIDENTIAL. l^TT
10569 No ^
Memorandum communicated to Hakki Pasha, 9th March 1914
BIN SAUD.
The subject being a complicated one it has seemed more convenient to
draw up an intormal memorandum for the personal information and use of His
Highness Ilakki Pasha.
la August last it was explained to His Highness that Bin Saud bv the
fact of his assumption of control at Katif and Ojair and the coast-line of the
iiil Hassa province, had now entered specifically into the sphere of Gulf
politics and commerce; and that important British interests and obligations
in the Gulf {e.g., in connection with the maintenance of the maritime
peace, the suppression of piracy, and the arms traffic; the settlement of
pearling and slavery disputes) made it impossible for us to ignore Bin Saud
and pretend to treat the province and coast of Hassa as politically derelict.
We must necessarily have relations with someone in authority, and
the Turks having evacuated the region we must deal with Bin Saud and' were
glad to explain the position to them.
The above communication was an obviously frank and friendly act
prompted by our desire to act with them in a spirit of mutual confidence and
co-operation.
Hakki Pasha received the communication verj^ favourably, and replied
that the Porte was already in negotiation with Bin Saud and that if occasion
for our mediation arose it would be taken advantage of.
In spite of this friendly response by His Highness we know from reliable
local information that just after this exchange of communications, or
conceivably just before it, the Ovtoman Government were endeavouring to
arrange terms with Bin Saud, some of which were clearly directed against the
British Government and British interests. Thus, according to our information,
the following are the conditions which the Porte are endeavouring to impose
on Bin Saud as the price of his partial autonomy :—
1. The re-admission of the Turkish garrisons to the province and coast of
Hassa, as formerly.
2. The appointment of Kazis and other judicial officers by direct
"farmans" issued by the Sultan.
3. The payment by Bin Saud of annual revenue of £ T. 3,000.
4. The reference of all communications from foreign Powers or their
representatives to the Turkish authorities for disposal.
5. The exclusion of all foreign merchants and agents from the province.
6. An undertaking from Bin Saud not to give concessions to any foreign
companies for railways or motor car services.
Incidentally, the Minister of the Interior has since informed His
Majesty's Ambassador (1st December 1913) that the Ottoman -Government
had decided to recognise the recent in Nejd (El Hassa) by
nominating Ibn Saud as Mutessarif of that district.
The first three of the six conditions above quoted refer to matters with
which we are not immediately concerned, but considering the frank
communication made to Hakki Pasha in August by His Majesty's Foreign
Office, it would not be unnatural that His Majesty's Government should be