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Coll 6/91 'Saudi Arabia. Policy of H.M.G. Qn. of credits and guarantee of assistance to Ibn Saud.' [217v] (435/680)
The record is made up of 1 file (338 folios). It was created in 24 Oct 1939-1 Jan 1945. It was written in English. 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.
x
4
Enclosure 1.
Mr. Stonehewer-Bird to King 'Abdul Aziz.
Your Majesty, Jedda, February 2, 1940.
HIS Excellency Sheikh Hafez Wahba on the 18th January conveyed to
at your Majesty’s command an acknowledgment of my letter of the 17th Januar^
regarding Dr. Grobba and at the same time requested me to communicate to the
Government in the United Kingdom your Majesty’s views on this matter. On
the 21st January Sheikh Hafez informed me that permission was not being
granted to Dr. Grobba to return.
I am authorised to inform your Majesty that the Government in the United
Kingdom have learnt with interest of your attitude to Dr. Grobba’s visit and
applaud the resolution with which your Majesty has acted. They feel that
having taken this stand it is necessary for your Majesty’s dignity and from every
point of view that you should abide by it. They are convinced that you need
have no apprehensions about the consequences. It is almost unthinkable to suggest
that Italy would break the Middle East Agreement and risk war with Great
Britain for the sake of German representation in Saudi Arabia. The Govern
ment in the United Kingdom have always tried to advise your Majesty in your
own best interests. In this case the advice was based on the sincere belief that
the misunderstandings to which the reception of a diplomat of Dr. Grobba’s
reputation would give rise and to the offensive which he might attempt would be
as embarrassing and dangerous for your Majesty as for the Government in the
United Kingdom. Had they had the slightest grounds to suppose that a refusal
might have serious consequences they would certainly have warned your Majesty.
If, nevertheless, your Majesty feels that Italian retaliation is possible they invite
you to read again paragraph 6 of the letter which the Prime Minister addressed
to your Majesty on the 23rd March and also paragraph 2 of Sir Reader Bullard’s
letter of the 30th April. The Government feel that these two messages will show
that they regard your Majesty’s interests as their own.
I have, &c.
F. H. W. STONEHEWER-BIRD.
Enclosure 2.
Mr. Stonehewer-Bird to King 'Abdul Aziz.
Your Majesty, Jedda, February 2, 1940.
IN addition to the question of Dr. Grobba’s reception, on which I have
addressed a separate letter to your Majesty, his Excellency Sheikh Hafez Wahba
raised other matters on which he stated your Majesty wished to learn the views
of the Government in the United Kingdom.
I duly communicated with the Government and have now received their
reply.
I am able to assure your Majesty that the Government in the United
Kingdom have complete confidence in your Majesty’s loyalty. They fully realise
the difficulties which have beset your path in recent years. For your numerous
marks of friendship they are and will always be grateful.
Your Majesty will understand the difficulties which now face the Government
in the United Kingdom. They are studying the possibility of supplying arms
and ammunition but regret that they cannot hold out very strong hope that they
will be able for the present to meet your Majesty’s request in this matter.
On the other hand, I am happy to be able to inform your Majesty that the
Government in the United Kingdom are prepared to meet bills for food-stuffs
purchased in India up to £100,000 sterling. Details regarding charges, &c.,
and arrangements for repayment can be settled later. Meanwhile the existing
offer of credit for £85,000 for purchase of arms remains open.
I am to add that His Majesty’s Government will always consider
sympathetically suggestions for securing the prosperity of Saudi Arabia, but in
this connexion it will be appreciated that while the resources of His Majesty’s
Government may appear considerable the demands on these resources are
enormous.
I have, &c.
F. H. W. STONEHEWER-BIRD.
About this item
- Content
This file concerns British policy towards Saudi Arabia during the Second World War (the abbreviation 'Qn' in the title stands for 'Question'). The correspondence discusses the question of providing financial or material assistance to Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd], as well as the United States' growing economic and strategic interests in Saudi Arabia.
The file features the following principal correspondents: His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Reader Bullard, Hugh Stonehewer Bird, and Stanley R Jordan successively); the Secretary of State for India (Leo Amery); the Viceroy of India (Archibald Percival Wavell); the Chancellor of the Exchequer (John Anderson); officials of the Foreign Office, 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. , the Treasury, the Government of India's Finance and External Affairs Departments, and the United States Embassy in London.
Related matters of discussion include the following:
- The idea (initially discussed in correspondence dating from 1939) of an alliance or a bloc of Arab states (chiefly comprised of Saudi Arabia and the Yemen), which would support the Allied cause.
- The Italo-German reaction to Ibn Saud's refusal to receive German diplomat Dr Fritz Konrad Ferdinand Grobba, a decision that was applauded by the British.
- Italian influence in the Middle East.
- Anglo-French co-operation in the Middle East.
- Details of the Saudi Government's finances (i.e. expenditure and revenue) during the early war years.
- Arrangements for loans and payments from the British to the Saudi Government, as well as details of royalties and loans paid to the Saudi Government by the California Arabian Standard Oil Company (Casoc).
- Proposals for an irrigation and agricultural mission to Saudi Arabia, headed by a United States agricultural expert.
- Conversations between Ibn Saud and United States General Patrick Hurley during the latter's visit to Riyadh in May 1943.
- The Government of India's decision in 1942 not to allow pilgrim ships to sail from India to Saudi Arabia, because of a risk of the ships being attacked.
- Ibn Saud's requests in 1944 for the British Government to send to Saudi Arabia financial and military advisers, preferably Sunni Moslems [Muslims].
- The proposed appointment of Ibn Saud's requested financial adviser, which is delayed and eventually abandoned, following the United States' suggestion that the position be given to a United States adviser, because of the United States' 'preponderant interest' in the Saudi economy.
The file includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 2).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (338 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 339; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 262-286; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Coll 6/91 'Saudi Arabia. Policy of H.M.G. Qn. of credits and guarantee of assistance to Ibn Saud.' [217v] (435/680), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2163, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100046518048.0x000026> [accessed 29 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2163
- Title
- Coll 6/91 'Saudi Arabia. Policy of H.M.G. Qn. of credits and guarantee of assistance to Ibn Saud.'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:36v, 39r:57v, 59r:110v, 113r:182v, 184r:189v, 191r:310r, 311v:339v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence