ملف رقم ٢١٨٢ لسنة ١٩١٣، الجزء ٤ "الخليج الفارسي: السياسة تجاه ابن سعود (بعثة النقيب شكسبير)" [و‎‎١‎٥‎٤] (٤٢٦/٣٠٩)

(0^ Ifl
Copy of a confidential letter No. C-4 dated 9th Novemder
1914, from Captain W.H.I. Shakespear, I.A., Political Dept,
on special Duty to the Political Resident in the Persian
Gulf.
In accordance with instructions received in London, I
proceeded to Bahrain, reaching that port on the 7th November,
with a view to making my way to the Ruler of Nejd, Abdul Aziz
"Bin S8,ud\
2. I found awaiting me the letters of the which translations
are enclosed herewith, from Aodul Aziz and his Amir in Has a.
"Bin Baud” himself was reported to be at Anaizah, a town nearer
in point of travelling time to Kuwait than Bahrain; there was
• e.
further to oe considered the delay which must occur owing to th'
necessity for communicating with the Amir of Hasa before ar
rangements for my transport could be completed. I decided,
therefore to inform "Bin Baud” that I was proceeding to Kuwait
and requested him to march north with all his forces. I hope
that he will probably do this and that I shall oe able to get
into personal touch with him in the desert somewhere to the
south-west of Kuwait.
3. Pending the receipt of further news I am at present unable
to state what will be the ultimate attitude of the Ruler of
Nejd. His letter to me is friendly enough and from what I know
of the man 1 think he will probably throw in his lot with us.
At the same time I venture to suggest that it would have been
better if the letter of assurances, e.opy of which has been
forwarded to me, had been kept back and handed to me for
personal delivery to "Bin Baud”, It will be remembered that
hitherto all "Bin Baud’s" overtures have oeen cbldly received
by us and nothing which/could regard as a satisfactory reply
hs.s been voucehsafed to him.
Now when war has broken out between His Majesty’s Govern
ment and the Turks we offer him all he has ever asked and inp
vite his military co-operation. This sudden change o± front
on our part may very possibly produce the following effect on
his Mnd, viz: that the English now having gone to war with