ملف ١١٠\ ١٩١٧ "الجزيرة العربية: مراسلات مطبوعة." [و‎‎١‎٢] (٦١٦/٢٨)

[Enclosure No. 2 to Serial No. 39.)
Telegram P., No. W.-669, dated the 23rd (received 24th) Jane 1919.
From— Wilson, Jeddah,
To—Political, Baghdad.
June 22nd. I append below the main points of the letter received from
the King of the Hedjaz
( 1 ) He is prepared to accept His Majesty’s Government as arbitrators in
any matter, but fails to see any necessity for arbitration in this case unless the
British intend to make over to Bin Saud his territory and his tribes. Bin
Saud has come in person to * • * Ashraf of the King’s own family and is
openly raising a rebellion among the tribes
(vide my wire* of 17 th June, No. 635).
(2) Having obtained definite proof of the aggression of Bin Saud, His
Majesty’s Government now ask the King to arbitrate “Is this ” he asks “ the
time for such a proposal after he has actually appointed a Governor at Tarabah
and established a force there
He seeks assurance that he may, if necessary, be permitted to resign ia
order to avoid being completed (compelled ?) to act against his judgment.
(3) He has no desire that we should sever relations with Bin Saud but has
laid the actual facts of the case before us for such action as we may consider
necessary.
He accordingly considers that it would be unnecessary to send messengers
to Bin Saud through Hedjaz lest any trouble should be caused but advises
continuance of our negotiations by letter as before.
He seems to consider that Philby’s Mission will be wasted as Bin Saud
has already left for Nejd and that it will, in all probability cause trouble and
loss of prestige to us. He is strongly opposed to the Mission.
( 4 ) The King also sends copies of enclosures to his agreement with
McMahon, the original of which he forwarded to the High Commissioner with
his letter of 28th August 1918 (vide your
t Not traceable. 198—7611,t dated 10th September 1918,
regarding conservation of barrier to * * * ).
No. S.-310—9-2, dated Baghdad, the 25th June 1919.
From—The Acting Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia,
To—
The Chief of the General Staff, General Headquarters.
The Political Officer, Mosul.
The Political Officer, Baghdad.
The Political Officer Basrah.
Copies for information, reference my No. S.-301, dated 22nd June 1919.
(Enclosure No. 3 to Serial No. 39.)
Telegram P., No. W.-674, dated the 24th (received 25th) June 1919.
r. From— Colonel Wilson, Jeddah,
To The British High Commissioner, Cairo (repeated Political, Baghdad).
Reference telegram of June 23rd, No.
+ >enai No. 22 . 7013} from Political, Baghdad.
I consider that the statement that a massacre was ordered by King
Hussain that he was present at the fight and fled, should be contradicted widely.
At the time he was in Mecca and was not ready, Abdulla was in command.
The fight took place on the night of the 25th May.
As regards casualties, the estimates of Abdulla and Bin Saud will
naturally differ materially. The only reliable figures we are ever likely to get
is the strength of the former’s Baghdadi and Syrian force which consisted of
60 officers and 769 other ranks on the 5th April j of the above, 7 of the former
and 80 of the latter escaped.