مجموعة ٦/ ٢١(٢) "المملكة العربية السعودية: العلاقات مع حكومة بريطانيا: المفوضية السعودية في لندن والوزير البريطاني في جدة. تمديد معاهدة جدة." [ظ‎‎٦‎١] (٧٦١/١٢٢)

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2. In point of fact he has not so much given me new material as embroidered
the theme given in his recent “ declaration,” a copy of which Sir Reader Bullard
enclosed with his secret despatch No. 100 of the 13th November to the Secretarv
of State. " '
3. We have, in our talks, made many excursions—into history, the politics
of neighbouring States and so on—and the King’s similes have been vivid and ^
apt but always he has returned to this same theme, which has, nevertheless,
remained imprecise. I have come to the conclusion that it is meant to be so.
In all his prolonged talks he has never come to a precise conclusion except that
once there was mention of practical aid to us in case of need. I was interested
to note that Sheikh \usuf has now added to his oft-repeated remark about our
giving of 60 million to Turkey and not 60 piastres to Saudi Arabia, “ We
are ready to be helped.”
4. His Majesty left me at Kharj alone with his Minister of Finance and
the hope that we should spend several days together. He must have been
disappointed that I showed little inclination to investigate the murky depths
of the State’s finance.
5. With regard to Arab federation I feel sure that if Ibn Saud felt it
weie practical he would not so constantly emphasise to me his dislike of the
Iraqi Government. He would gloss over their mutual troubles: not fasten on
to them.
6. I believe that it is his intention to plant in our minds something like
the following idea :—
t£ Iraq is unreliable, the French are mismanaging things in Syria,
Palestine is troublesome. The only strong man, Ibn Saud, the c friend of
Britain,’ who can put this right and bring the Arab States into line, so
that they can make a stand against our enemies is powerless because he has
no modern army and insufficient money.
“ If we give him £11 million a year and some modern equipment he
would save the day for us when the time comes.”
^ ^ ?i ve 0Ile an d a half million as a figure because that is the sum
Yusuf Yasm suddenly mentioned one day as likely to be the State’s deficit
in the coming year.
8. Sheikh Yusuf also gave me another hint. A propos of quite another
subject to this he said : “ Tou know the King is really always at war. He has
campaigned so much, and had to deal with so many sudden changes in politics,
due to war, that he is quick and impatient even in small things.”
9. It would obviously be irksome for such a man as Ibn Saud to continue
evenly on the way of peace without any engagement in the “ great opportunity ”
now presented.
10. Some remarks dropped in conversation by the intelligentsia of Riyadh,
the North African and Syrian officials of the King’s Diwan, lead me to believe
that the Government’s finances are in an unhappv condition, but that with
borrowings from the C.A.S.O.C. [California-Arabia Standard Oil Company],
against future royalties and with economies, with the making of which one of
the officials, Bashir-as-Sadawi, has been specially charged, it should be able
to keep going until the oil royalties begin to come into the Treasury in full
flood in about two years’ time.
11. Subject to any new revelations in this field, I am not of the opinion
that it is necessary to subsidise Ibn Saud, although I think that we should keep
it m mind. If the prices of food-stuffs rise much" we may have to do so, or come
to some helpful arrangement. I am writing to vou separately about this, a subiect
raised by Sheikh Yusuf Yasin. J
12. With regard to the bigger issue which the King has raised, I do not
suppose lor one moment that His Majesty’s Government intend to go all the way
with him. Should they go part of the way with him ? Is the picture drawn for
me by Yusuf Yasin, of the Iranians supported by Russia turning the flank of
Turkey, so fantastic, and what moves do the military authorities anticipate next
year' r
. . 13 - Ways in which Ibn Saud could be helpful are dependent upon internal
developments m the State. Hitherto it has been difficult for him to give any
facilities to foreigners or introduce modern developments, but now with the
discovery of a first-class oil field, there can be no turning back, and modernisation
is settling in rapidly.