'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎16r] (31/434)

This forecast proved false but there have been faint indications of a slow move
ment in that direction. Ibn Sa’ud has tended to lead a somewhat easier life than
of old. He has left more in the hands of his advisers, though he still controls
them all in major matters. He has accepted new constitutional forms, which,
though they appear to us rather illusory at present, are not wholly unreal. Last
year he made new secretarial arrangements at Riyadh, which involved the transfer
to the Amir Sa’ud of his own chief secretary, Ibrahim ibn Muammar, who has
now gone as Charge de’Affaires to Baghdad.
4. I collect these indications for two reasons. Slight as they are, they lend
support to the idea that Ibn Sa’ud may end his active career, or at any rate his
public career, by abdication rather than by death. Secondly, and this is of more
mterest to His Majesty’s Government, such an intention would help to explain
the rather marked tendency which Ibn Sa’ud has shown during the past year
to seek to compose various differences which might militate against the success
of a new ruler ; to disarm hostility among his own subjects ; and to reduce the
possibilities of quarrel with neighbouring countries like ’Iraq, Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan , the
Yemen and perhaps even Kuwait.
5. I sought a further audience with tbe King on June 11, to discuss business.
I will report what passed separately in connexion with the subjects I raised, in
so far as it may be necessary to record it. The King broached no subject of his
own.
6. Ibn Sa’ud returned to Mecca late on June 12. During his short stay
His Majesty gave a great deal of time to Captain H. C. Armstrong, who is writing
his biography and whom he consented, as a result of correspondence through
the Sa’udi Minister in London, to receive in Jedda. Captain Armstrong arrived
on June 7. He had a general conversation with the King on June 10, and had four
further audiences on June 11 and 12 of an average duration of some two hours
each. The King has been most forthcoming and both parties appear to be
exceedingly pleased with each other. I have avoided any appearance of promoting
Captain Armstrong’s enterprise but he is staying with my wife and me on the
strength of old friendship.
7. I am sending copies of this despatch to His Excellency the Viceroy of India
(Foreign and Political Department), His Majesty’s Ambassador at Baghdad,
His Majesty’s High Commissioners at Jerusalem and Cairo, the Hon’ble the
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire, and_to His Majesty’s Chief Com
missioner at Aden.
( 30 )
(Received on 22nd July 1933, with Political Secretary's letter No. 27, dated the 6th
July 1933.)
• Letter from His Majesty’s Minister, Jedda, to the Foreign Office, No. 110,
DATED THE 16TH May 1933.
No. 1.
In paragraph 32 of the Jedda report for March (F. 81-N./33), enclosed in my
despatch No. 102 of the 7th April, I mentioned that Ibn Sa’ud had given a dinner
to notable pilgrims on the evening of the 31st March. As you are aware, this is
now a regular feature of each year’s pilgrimage season. On the present occasion,
the King entertained some hundreds of guests of various nationalities, including
several Indians. I understand from my Indian Vice-Consul that the attention
shown both to Shia and to Indian pilgrims has been a feature of this year’s
pilgrimage. In the case of the Indians the King and the Minister of Finance,
who is largely responsible for dispensing such attention, had the advantage of
the presence of Jemal Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Ghazzi, who has been conducting since last year an
intensive pro-pilgrimage campaign in India and was able to make play with
the intimacy he had established there with various participants in this year’s
Haj.
tu ^ ^ le s cus tom to speak at great length at these annual banquets.
The published version of his address on the present occasion occupied a page and
a half of the Umm-al-Qura of the 6th April. I enclose a short summary prepared
in the Legation. ^