![File 2182/1913 Pt 11 'Arabia: relations with BIN SAUD Hedjaz-Nejd Dispute' [‎394r] (342/678)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00011e/IOR_L_PS_10_391_0799.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "File 2182/1913 Pt 11 'Arabia: relations with BIN SAUD Hedjaz-Nejd Dispute' [‎394r] (342/678)")
File 2182/1913 Pt 11 'Arabia: relations with BIN SAUD Hedjaz-Nejd Dispute' [394r] (342/678)
The record is made up of 1 item (336 folios). It was created in 16 Oct 1919-28 May 1920. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
' (P 902)
From Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, 28th January 1920.
(Repeated to Cairo. Copy by post to India.)
(Received 3rd February, 2 p.m.)
3^3
my telegram of 24th January, 1082.
Nejd mission, which is now in Bombay, should reach Hasa about 20th February.
Llntil Bin Sand has conferred with mission and has seen report of the proceedings
to which reference is made in draft message to Bin Saud, it is unlikely he will feel
able to answer latter, and suspicion may be aroused if we press for a reply previous
to the return of mission.
I therefore propose, subject to your approval, to await arrival of mission and
news as to nature of communication referred to by Bin Saud in his letter of 15th
January before forwarding to him the message ordered in your telegram of 24th
January.
Secondly. I do not think that Bin Saud will consent to proceed to Jeddah by
land, and I doubt if it is expedient on general grounds to ask him to do so. He
would certainly not venture there without a large personal escort, and in the present
state of religious tension the result of any untoward incident might be very grave.
The intention of (? journey) might, moreover, be widely misunderstood.
Thirdly. Should he not consent to proceed to Jeddah by land, two courses
appear possible.
(1) To ask King Hussein to agree to the meeting in the neighbourhood of Taif,
Ashairah or Tarabah.
(2) To ask Bin Sand to visit King Hussein at Jeddah by sea, and to provide him
with a naval or Royal Indian Marine vessel for the purpose.
I shall be glad to know whether the latter course would receive approval of His
Majesty’s Government.
The naval commander East India Squadron will be in Baghdad on 10th February,
and I could discuss details with him if desired.
Latter course would clinch matters, and would ensure that the two parties met.
Whether Bin Saud would agree to do so or not, however, is very doubtful.
I ourthly. In view of above considerations, 1 recommend that, unless journev
by sea is approved, no reference be made to the place of meeting in communication
made to Bin Saud, and in the circumstances that relevant sentence should be
revised as follows :—
“ They are glad to be able to inform you that King Hussein is willing to meet
you, and to endeavour to come to a friendly arrangement with you. The time and
place of this meeting should be arranged direct with King Hussein, and intimated to
me for the information of His Majesty’s Government.”
Clear the line.
Your telegram No. 1244, dated 28th January. Bin Saud. Provided it is certain
that Bin Saud will remain at Hasa until Nejd Mission arrives, I approve your proposal
to await Mission’s arrival before communicating message conveyed in my telegram
of 24th January. I agree that it will be preferable for Bin Saud to proceed to Jeddah
by sea, and you are authorised to p’/opose this to him and to make necessary arrange
ments. 1 am asking Admiralty to instruct Naval Commander-in-Chief to render you
all assistance in his power. You will bear in mind that His Majesty’s Government
attach great importance to meeting between King Husain and Bin Saud, and that
latter’s visit to Hasa affords opportunity that is not likely to recur not only of
influencing him effectively in desired direction, but of ensuring that he actually sets
out on the journey.
My telegram of 5th February. Bin Saud. Admiralty have instructed Naval
Commander-in-Chief as requested, but consider it unlikely that he can spare a ship,
and suggest that Royal Indian Marine vessel might be lent by Government of India
if Bin Saud cannot travel by ordinary steamer.
(P 902)
From Secretary of State to Civil Commissioner, Baghdad,
5th February 1920.
(Repeated Viceroy.)
(P 1060)
From Secretary of State to Civil Commissioner, Baghdad,
H5th l^ebruary 1920.
(Repeated to Viceroy.)
Priority A.
About this item
- Content
Part 11 concerns British policy regarding the dispute between Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd, also referred to in the correspondence as Ibn Saud] and King Hussein of Hejaz [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī, King of Hejaz] over Khurma and Tarabah [Turabah]. Much of the correspondence documents the efforts of the British to persuade the two leaders to agree to meet. It is initially proposed that the two should meet at Jeddah; however, it is reported by the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, that Bin Saud refuses to meet King Hussein at Jeddah, Aden, or Cairo, and suggests a meeting at Baghdad instead. A number of other possibilities are discussed, including the following: the Secretary of State for India's proposal of a meeting of plenipotentiaries, either at Khurma or Tarabah, as an alternative to a meeting between the two leaders themselves; a suggestion by the High Commissioner, Egypt, that the two leaders meet in London; a proposal from Lord Curzon [George Nathaniel Curzon], Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that Bin Saud should be induced to meet King Hussein on board a British ship at Jeddah, or, as is later suggested, at Aden.
Also included are the following:
- an account from Captain Norman Napier Evelyn Bray, political officer in charge of the Nejd Mission, which recounts the last days of the mission's stay in Paris, in late December 1919;
- a report from the High Commissioner, Egypt, on his recent meeting with King Hussein, which relays the latter's views on the allocation of control of Syria to France;
- discussion regarding the growing power and influence of Bin Saud's Akhwan [Ikhwan] forces;
- a note on the dispute by Harry St John Bridger, in which he volunteers to induce Bin Saud to agree to a meeting at any place (outside of Hejaz) suggested by His Majesty's Government;
- memoranda and diary entries written by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain, Major Harold Richard Patrick Dickson, all of which discuss at length Dickson's interviews with Bin Saud at Hasa [Al Hasa] in January and February 1920;
- extracts from a report by the British Agent, Jeddah, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Edwin Vickery, which recounts his recent interviews with King Hussein and the King's son, Emir Abdullah [ʿAbdullāh bin Ḥusayn al-Hāshimī].
The item features the following principal correspondents:
- Secretary to the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. 's Political Department (John Evelyn Shuckburgh);
- Civil Commissioner, Baghdad [held in an officiating capacity by Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold Talbot Wilson];
- High Commissioner, Egypt (Field Marshal Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby);
- Secretary of State for India [Edwin Samuel Montagu];
- Foreign Office;
- British Agent, Jeddah (Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Edwin Vickery);
- Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain (Major Harold Richard Patrick Dickson);
- Bin Saud;
- Admiralty;
- Viceroy of India [Frederic John Napier Thesiger].
- Extent and format
- 1 item (336 folios)
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 2182/1913 Pt 11 'Arabia: relations with BIN SAUD Hedjaz-Nejd Dispute' [394r] (342/678), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/391/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100032475965.0x0000c8> [accessed 12 June 2024]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100032475965.0x0000c8
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100032475965.0x0000c8">File 2182/1913 Pt 11 'Arabia: relations with BIN SAUD Hedjaz-Nejd Dispute' [‎394r] (342/678)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100032475965.0x0000c8"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00011e/IOR_L_PS_10_391_0799.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00011e/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/391/1
- Title
- File 2182/1913 Pt 11 'Arabia: relations with BIN SAUD Hedjaz-Nejd Dispute'
- Pages
- 224r:232v, 233ar, 233r:247v, 249r:319v, 325r:325v, 329r:368v, 372r:400v, 406r:413v, 414ar, 414r:418v, 420r:432v, 437r:459v, 461r:472v, 473ar, 473r:484v, 485ar, 485r:497v, 505r:520v, 522r:535v, 537r:560v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence