مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [و‎‎٣‎٨‎٤] (٨٠٢/٧٦٨)

up to the end of the month. Both the foreign Office and Sir f. Humphi)s
considered that it would be premature to intervene with Ibn Saud until the assent
of the French authorities, already given in principle, should have taken deiini e
shape. The High Commissioner hoped to discuss the matter further with the
French when visiting Beirut on the 19th April.
Iraq.
x ‘ Bon-Voisinage,” &c.
22. The situation described in paragraphs 21 and 22 of the report for
January-February took a turn for the better in March. Some sort of a collection
of the story that Nuri Pasha was coming by invitation to talk to Ibn Sana abou
an Arab alliance would appear to have been published in the Bagdad pi ess. n
or about the 16th March the Pasha telegraphed direct to Mecca his regrets at
having had to postpone his visit. The suspicions of the Hejazis as to the reasons
for the delay were finally allayed by a further telegram announcing his departure
from Bagdad by air. He arrived in Jedda on the morning of the oth April
accompanied by Taha Pasha Hashimi, the Iraqi Chief of Staff, Munaftak Bey-
al-Alousi, a high official of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and two subordinates
He was given a good reception, though it perhaps fell a little short of what might
have been expected. Not only the King but the Prince-Ministei foi oieign
Affairs remained in Mecca and Sheikh Yusuf Yasin went no further than the
quay leaving it to minor personages to welcome the delegation on board ship.
The Heiazi Government were a little disconcerted to find that Nun 1 asha
contemplated only a short stay, all the shorter as the Khedivial steamer by which
he intended to return was timed to leave earlier than had been expected. Plans
were rapidly readjusted, and instead of staying at least one night in Jedda, he
went on the same afternoon to Mecca, where the whole of the negotiations took
* 23. The negotiations in Mecca lasted three days. They were successfully
concluded late on°the afternoon of the 8th March. No occasion arose for British
intervention, contrary to the expectation of His Majesty’s Minister, who had
obtained instructions as to the attitude to be observed, in case he should be called
in to compose differences. His only role, indeed, was to sa\ bless you m^
children ” at a dinner party at the Legation on the evening of the last day, at
which Nuri Pasha and Sheikh Yusuf Yasin arrived very late but very pleased
with themselves. From what Nuri Pasha told Sir A. Ryan, taken in conjunction
with the official communique published by the Hejazi Government on the
10th April, the agreements reached would appear to have been as follows
(a) The u Bon-Voisinage ” Agreement and Arbitration Protocol initialled
at Bagdad on the 9th March, 1930, were signed, with minor alterations.
(b) An extradition treaty was signed after difficult negotiations, in the course
of which Nuri Pasha undertook to write a letter in agreed terms giving
certain assurances regarding tribal offenders. ^ ^
(c) It was agreed to renew the arrangement made on board H.M.S. “ Lupin
in February 1930, regarding the disputed posts in the southern desert
of Iraq (Jedda report for February 1930, paragraph 3 (1)). The
Hejazi communique made no reference to this question.
(d) Nuri Pasha believed himself to have finally placated Ibn Saud as regards
Ibn Mashhur (see below). This also was not referred to in the Hejazi
communique. . .
(e) Various questions were reserved for subsequent negotiation. These,
according to the Hejazi communique, were Kara Mein Wakfs, pass
port arrangements, customs duties and co-operation in regard to
scientific and technical matters. Nuri Pasha also mentioned wells.
Just before re-embarking he told Sir A. Ryan that he had that
morning made some last moment concession regarding Wakfs, but he
did not indicate its nature.
24. Apart from the main negotiations, the parties also discussed the
questions of Ibn Mashhur (see paragraphs 27-28) and the disposal of Sultan
A1 Atrash and his followers (see paragraph 21). Nuri Pasha explained to the
Hejazi Government the agreement just concluded between Iraq and Transjordan.