ملف رقم ٢١٨٢ لسنة ١٩١٣، الجزء ٥، "منطقة نجد بالجزيرة العربية: سياسة ابن سعود" [و‎‎٣‎١‎٨] (٣٠٨/٢١١)

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From Sir P. Cox, 9//z September 1916.
(Add) essed to hurcau. Cairo, and repeated to Foreign, Simla, and Secretary
War Office.)
In reply to (?) letter of 25th June, of which copy was sent Bureau on
9th July, Chief Political Officer has received long letter, dated 25th July,
fiom Bin Sued. Copy is being posted (meanwhile ’?). following (mav be?)
of present interest.
Referring to Chief Political Officer’s disappointment at his not having
moved against Bin Rashid, he explains that his expedition against Almurrah
was aa urgent necessity m our joint interests, for had it not been undertaken
the Almurrah would have joined Bin Bashid and given trouble to us.
Finally, he says, in absence of guns and ammunition it was futile for him to
think of advancing or entering into general war with Turks.
Commenting on news sent him regarding Sherif, he says he was pleased
to get it because it meant in any case a severe blow to Turks and perhaps
the complete expulsion of Turks from Arabia. He goes on to remark,
however, that wording of official communique, referring, as it does, to “the
Arabs as a whole, causes him considerable apprehension and makes it
necessary for him to remind us that there has been a feud between him and
Sherif for years on account of Sherif s persevering endeavours to interfere
amongst tribes and settlements of Nejd. He (Bin Saud) has always opposed \
this, and he and his tribesmen will never tolerate any control on the part of j
Sherif o^t interference within their boundaries which are well recognised
and detined. He expresses belief that Sherif’s original intention vvas to j
play off British against Turks and thus get Turks to grant him independence
guaranteed by Germany. In conclusion he recommends us to give Sherif
just enough assistance to ensure protraction of the struggle between him
and Turks and thus keep them employed and unable to detach troops to
Iraq.
r \ he above is repeated with reference to your telegram dated 8th
September.