"ملف 10/3 VI الامتياز النفطي بقطر" [و‎‎٧‎٦] (٤٨١/١٦٣)

27
jy,—1901-1914. From the Capture of Riyadh by Ibn Saud to the outbreak of the
Great War.
130. Between 1901 and 1913 Ibn Sand considerably reduced the importance of
the Ibn Raslrid family and established himself in Nejd. In 1913 lie drove the
Turkish garrisons out of Hasa. During almost the whole of this period he was in
frequent contact with II.M. Government, his object being to secure their protection
against the Turks. It may perhaps be well, in the interests both of illustrating
the terms which he was prepared to offer in return for British protection and of
placing on record the various statements made by him during this period as to his
maximum ambitions, his attitude towards the area to the east of the Kejd-Hasa
border, and to the States of the Arab littoral, and his view of his position vis-d-vis
the Turks, to record in greater detail than would otherwise be justifiable the
sequence of events and the more important correspondence which passed.
131. In January 1901 Ibn Saud took Ibn Rashid by surprise and conquered
Riyadh. He appears to have made overtures to the Political Resident late in 1903
with a view to ascertaining whether he could look for British protection in the
event of his conquering Hasa. The Government of India thereupon took up the
_ question of sending a European officer to Riyadh for the purpose of collecting
il intelligence. They were instructed by H.M. Government that no steps should
be taken to enter into closer relations with Nejd or to send an Agent there without
prior sanction, and in the light of the Resident's views, which were also hostile,
they did not proceed with the proposal.
Ihn Sand appeals for British Protection, 1904.
132. In May 1904, on the Turks taking active steps to support Ibn Rashid, a
protest against the Turkish invasion was received from Ibn Saud, who solicited the yj c tel
protection of Great Britain for his country and himself. No answer seems to have 20.5.04.
been given to these overtures, which were made through the Political Resident.
Influence of Ahu Dhahi in the Hinterland of the Trvcial Coast, 1904.
133. The Political Resident in June 1904 drew attention to the preponderating
influence which the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi had recently been exercising in the J! 1 ' 0,
hinterland of the Trucial Coast and referred to the fact that the Sheikh had >8 6 04
concluded agreements with the inland Bedouin tribes such as the Beni Khatab,
Ghofleh, Khavater, &c.
Policy of H.M. Government, 1904.
134. In September 1904 Ibn Rashid and the Turkish troops accompanying him P. 2188 a /04.
were completely routed by Ibn Saud. The Political Agent, Koweit, asked by the Bie.toG.ofl.
Sheikh what advice he should give Ibn Saud, who had enquired whether or not to ' !! "
write to the Turks on the matter, replied that Ibn Saud must consult his own
interests and act as he thought best, and that in the absence of instructions from
H.M. Government neither the Political Agent nor the Sheikh could give him any
advice.
135. On 30th December 1904 the Secretary of State for India telegraphed to p. 8499/04.
the Viceroy that " H.M. Government desire that it should be clearly understood
that their interest and influence are to be confined strictly to the coast line of
Eastern Arabia, and that nothing should be said or done to connect them even
indirectly with the warfare now in progress in the interior."
Saudi Agreement with the Turks, 1905.
136. In February 1905 a meeting took place at Koweit between the Sheikh,
the Turkish Wali of Basra and Ibn Sand's father. The latter is stated to have
wade a humble submission to the Sultan in his own name and that of his son,
Abdul Aziz, professing loyalty and devotion to his sovereign and his readiness to
obey his commands, and stating that he was prepared to do all he could to assist
the Turkish expedition to Qasim. He protested that Ibn Rashid was his enemy
^d was inciting the Turkish Government against him. After preliminary
discussions the Turkish representative produced an order from Constantinople,
af idressed to Ibn Saud, appointing him ruler of Nejd on behalf of the Turkish
3076 jj
Const, to
F.O., tel. of
12.2.05 and
17.2.05.
M11
P.G. Res.
Diary,
15.2.05.