مجموعة ٢١/٦(١) "الحجاز-نجد: العلاقات مع الحكومة البريطانية: مفوضية الحجاز في لندن والوزير البريطاني في جدة". [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٢] (٩١٤/٢٩٥)

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The next subject discussed was the Koweit Neutral Zone Oil Concession.
Fuad Bey recapitulated The position of the Saudi Government vis-d-vis the
Standard Oil Company of California in regard to the option which had been
-given them in connexion with this concession. After a short discussion, however
it was agreed to postpone further examination of this matter until the following
week, when an India Office expert on this question would be available to join in
the discussion. J
16. Finally, the question of the Bahrein Transit Dues was raised. Fuad
>>ey explained that there were two difficulties confronting his Government in
this matter: firstly, the question of the transit dues themselves; and, secondly
the question of direct shipments to the Hasa coast. As regards the first of these’
the baudi Government feared that the Bahrein Government were about to raise
the dues, if they had not already done so. They considered, moreover, that anv
consignments addressed either to King Ibn Saud or to the Saudi Government
should be exempted from dues.
. Fir Andrew Ryan stated that for some time past the negotiations on
tns subject had been transferred to London, and that, although he had been
ivept miormed, he had not been directly concerned in this matter, until during
his recent audience with King Ibn Saud at Taif the King had raised with him
the question of direct shipments. He pointed out that it was scarcely fair of
the Saudi Government both to demand that the Bahrein Government should
reduce the rates of the dues and at the same time endeavour to kill the Bahrein
transit trade. Bahrein must live.
fnllv Mtr.Rendel stated that Sheikh Hafiz Wahba had already represented
iully at the Foreign Office the views of his Government on this subject. His
Su l 3 Go t v f n “ e y. . for their Part, had suggested that a Saudi delegation
shmld be sent to Bahrein to examine whether the issue between the Saudi and
Bahrein Governments could not be narrowed down if not removed altogether
questmFthlt tbeS^H'T 8 ’ “ ^ the “ ost practical means of settling this
question that the Saudi Government could not prejudice their case bv sendlno-
such a delegation, and that if the discussions should fail they would stfll be free
o pursue the matter with His Majesty’s Government direct. The question
particularly as regards the dues, was a complicated and technical one where local
data would be necessary, and which could be dealt with far more effectivelv on
the spot than m London or in Jedda. He felt snrp thGt i i A-
would d ° much to clear the air, even if it did not lead to a final settlement 6 and
he suggested that preliminary discussions of this nature might well take nlace
at once. Sn A. Ryan would not be back m Jedda until December so there^was
p enty of time to explore the ground locally meanwhile. If the proposed W1
discussions should lead to nothing and tW P iP f? i 1
reasonable grounds for considering^’the attitude of it. ^2. ^ nmen ^ should have
be unreasonable, lt would stlu be ^sfbffi totkAt matTktoT^f ‘f
the general discussions with Sir A. Ryan after his retur “to Jedda P
-d i i^' r Andrew Ryan stated that he had always considered Saudi Arabia and
proposed, namely, a discussion at Bahrein on a pkelyTractL? basjrwhh ^he
Sis; re/yrira y “*»
«■ •«*
^audi Government could not obtain reasonable cotmfp’f- Ut ’ + P? an ^ case ’, t ^ ie
conference, they would still be able to raise th.stueTon durkfkrgen^a!