ملف رقم ٢١٨٢ لسنة ١٩١٣، الجزء ٥، "منطقة نجد بالجزيرة العربية: سياسة ابن سعود" [ظ‎‎٢‎٤‎٩] (٣٠٨/٧٤)

F rom Viceroy, 2nd February 1915
( Repeated to Cairo, r epeated t o
Private. Since my arrival at Koweit letters have reached
me from Bin Saud, Captain Shakespear, dated 19th January.
Former writes in most friendly terms (corrupt group) expressing
his keen regret at impossibility of reaching Koweit in time to meet
me, gratification at prospect of establishment of close relations, and
begs me to convey his homage to His Majesty the King.
Captain Shakespear writes to report that on 17th January a
messenger reached Bin Saud with letters from Sharif of Mecca and
his son Abdulla, who acts as leader of his father' s_forces. Abdulla
wrote that he had arrived at Medina at the urgent instance of
Turks, who were pressing his father to mobilise his tribesmen and
proclaim holy war, but that before embarking on such a course they
were anxious to know Bin Saud's views and attitude. Answering
this letter in consultation with Shakespear Bin Saud is said to have
urged Sharif to avoid compliance on the pretext that such action
would only result in British reprisals on Jeddah. He went on to
explain to Sharif the tactics which he himself had adopted for
temporising with the Turks, and assured him that he saw no advantage
in siding with them. With thus reply he enclosed copies of our
circular letter to the Gulf Chiefs, our proclamation regarding holy
places, and the statement of our case against Turkey. This measure
of co-operation on the part of Bin Saud is most useful, and is as
much as we can expect in the absence of a treaty with him. Were a
satisfactory document executed we might hope with Bin Saud's
assistance not only to ensure maintenance of Sharif’s neutrality,
but even his active support^ as well as Bin Saud’s. The above‘con
siderations prompt me to press for authority to conclude preliminary
treaty without deilay. On the other hand news has reached Koweit
C? which) is still unconfirmed, that Bin Saud has met with check at
the hands of Bin Rashid, and it may be Q? preferable to} await news
from