مجموعة ٦ / ٨ (١) "سلسلة مطبوعة: ١٩٢٩ إلى ١٩٣٨". [و‎‎٢‎٨‎٠] (١٠٦٢/٥٦٤)

23
State lor India to say that he cononrq in tTi 0
to issue to Sir Andrew Ryan on tWs subject InTtlT u '* 13 pr0p03ed
that there may be advantage totems nniii h6
iSSf 1 ” 17 s is
(19)
(Received on 11th April 1931, with Political Secretary's letter No. 13, dated the
26th March 1931.)
Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter dated tlie 18th March 1931.
Letter from His Britannic Majesty s Minister, Jedda, ti the Foreign
Office, No. C2, dated the 12th February 1S31.
As you are aware, some stir was created last year by Mr. H. St. J.
Philby’s adoption of the Islamic faith in August. I revert now to this
matter, which I did not think it necessary to report officially at the time,
because of a long article published in the Mjcca p tper “ Umm-al-Qura ” of
January 30th.
2. The writer takes as his text a verse from the Koran which says “ I
will not drive away those who have believed ”. His object is to dispose of
calumnious gossip regarding the relations between Ibn Sa’ud and Mr. Philby.
He refers to the friendly personal relations which grew out of Mr. Philby’s
mission to the King during the Great War ; to Mr. Philby’s resignation from
the service of His Majesty’s Government as a result of differences when he
was employed in Trans-Jordan ; and to the renewal of his friend : y relations
with Ibn Sa’ud when Mr. Philby settkd in business in Jedda, He explains
how the spectacle of the King’s strong faith led Mr. Philby to look deeply
into Islam and how, after frequently expressing to the King his desire to
embrace that faith, he finally decided to do so, a decision which increased
his consideration in the eyes of the King and all the people, for the friend of
yesterday had now become a brother in Islam. The writer scouts the idea
that there is any other difference between the Philby of the ptsst and the
Abdullah of the present. He repudiates the slanders to which Mr. Philby’s
profession of faith and the King’s acceptance have given rise.
3. The writer wishes that the scandal mongers had stopped at general
slander but they do not. They suggest that the King, who founded his
dominions by the sword and also secured his independence by the grace of
God and his own good planning and power, has shewn submission to the
British by making Mr. Philby a British adviser, so that he should be under
British guidance. “ Oh God Almighty, what a lie ” cries the author. The
hero of battles fought for digni y and honour could not sink so low. Mr.
Philby, a true friend before and after and now a brother in Islam, is too
great to be accused so falsely and the King is a faithful Arab.
4. This article has a certain significance. Mr. Philby has undoubtedly
increased his position with the King, if not necessarily in other native
circles, by his adoption of Islam. He has much freer access to Ibn fea ud
now that he can go to Mecca and other places in the interior, than he had
before. The Kina, a talkative man by nature, certainly speaks much to him
of his affairs and,°I believe, admits him to the vagueJy constituted councils
which he constantly holds. There must be many people who hold by the
good old idea that a British official never cnanges his spots and t at
Mr. Philby can only be acting as some sort of a British rhe a .^ J
of the writer’s refe/enees to Mr. Philby’s past career would appear to intimate
that he has himself had a good deal to do with the apologia in the Urn .
QuraT.
5. I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty’s High Commis
sioners in Iraq and Trans-Jordan.
228(C) F&PD