Coll 6/10 'Hejaz-Nejd Affairs: Financial Situation and Internal Situation' [‎523r] (1052/1310)

6. The Kii)g said that there was nothing in the general situation in Arabia
to cause anxiety. The situation might, however, change. He was the friend of
Great Britain, whatever might befall. If any change occurred, if, for instance,
His Majesty’s Government had difficulties in neighbouring countries (I do not
recollect very clearly the words used, but this was implied if not stated), he would
✓^jke to know where he stood. What acts would His Majesty’s Government wish
im to avoid ? In what positive way could he assist them in case of need ? These
were the questions wdiich he had sought to elucidate in the past through Sir P. Cox
and Sir G. Clayton. He was asking me now to obtain answers to them. How
did lie stand ? He did not mean that his friendship depended on the answer.
He would be Great Britain's friend as he had always been, if they needed his
friendship. He was not making it a matter of bargaining.
7. I undertook to convey His Majesty's statement to His Majesty's Govern
ment. I added that I could hardly venture to say much myself, but that I should
like to offer a few observations. On this the King said that he was not only
giving me a message, but seeking my personal advice. He did not wash to say
anything that might produce a bad effect or breed suspicion.
8. Thus encouraged, I said rather more than I at first intended. I
reminded the King that he had sent Sheikh Yussuf Yasin to speak to me on the
1st April about his perturbation over the apparent tension between Great Britain
•md himself. I had told the sheikh that His Majesty’s Government's fundamental
attitude of friendship towards the King had not changed, and had stressed the
fact that His Majesty’s Government dealt with particular questions on their
merits. I had not disguised the danger of general relations being affected by
such a question as that of the 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 frontier, but the danger had now been
averted The language I had used to Sheikh Yussuf and similar language on
other occasions had been approved.
9. I spoke of the bases of our friendship with Ibn Sand. Old association
was a factor in it; that always counted for something. The impression which he
created personally was another factor; those of my countrymen who had had
intercourse with him had always, in my experience, been attracted by his
personality. The greatest factor of all was, however, the fact that His Majesty’s
Government saw in him an element of stability in a country where they desired
stability. We were a nation of shopkeepers and wanted stability everywhere.
We had a more special interest in stability in Arabia for reasons into which I
would not enter, as I did not wish to be too lengthy.
10. The King, I said, had sought my advice about his message to His
Majestv’s Government, I did not dissuade him from sending it; I could not
encourage him to hope for a definite reply. I knew little of what Sir P. Gox had
done in Arabia, but I had known him otherwise. Whatever turn he might give
to a matter, neither he nor Sir G. Clayton were men who would fail to report
fully anything the King had said. If he had elicited no answer I thought it
was because his questions related to a hypothetical case. It was a fixed pi lump e
with His Majesty’s Government to deal with questions as they arose, and they
had a horror of defining an attitude in regard to hypothetical cases. I enlarged
11 On this the King admitted that he could not expect a definite answer
to his questions. What he wanted was to expound his views to His Majesty s
Government and (this was implied rather than stated) to enhst my assistance
12. I took the opportunity of begging the King to believe that 1 was smcei ely
well-disposed towards him and his country I would, and did, ^piesem his
views to my Government. As I had told Fuad Bey, final instructions mig d ffer
from original instructions as a result of my suggestions, but final instructions
must be carried out. The representative of a Government was like a chisel . ,
hands of a carpenter, an essential tool, but worked b> the cai pen ei. , i?
13. The King appreciated this. Be suggested, however that beto e
carrying out instructions I should ascertain his Government s si e o ^ ,
order that it might be taken into account. 1 did not analyse this obvious y
impossible suggestion. I assured the King of m\ gooc ^ ‘ too i an( j
that I had used the analogy of the chisel advisedly. was ,
ofZbS-Sght ato tktdrcuti 111 j^dTw^iif W we could^et
Z*rl™£T Resident in the