File 1166/1925 'Arabia: Nejd; negotiations with Ibn Saud regarding Iraq-Nejd question and Trans-Jordan boundary; Sir G Clayton's mission; Bahra agreement, 2nd November, 1925' [‎138v] (283/769)

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wish, nor was I competent, to argue with him on the intricacies of
tribal raids and customs; I was charged with an endeavour to pro
duce an arrangement, based on an agreement between the two
States, which would assist towards the prevention and settlement
of cases of raiding and violation of order. If His Highness agreed
to subscribe to an agreement designed to improve matters, well and
good ; if he was unable to accept any instrument that did not con
tain everything he wanted, both in practice and principle, then I was
afraid I must admit that I had failed to attain my object.
Ibn Sa'ud said that he had not understood that the purpose of
our Conference was to face him with decisions which he must either
accept or reject. He thought that the object was to negotiate with
a view to coming to an agreement that would be in the interests of
both parties, and he asked that this might be borne in mind when
taking note of his attitude. If he did not ask questions now when
should he ask them? He was only anxious to obtain in as full a
measure as possible the main requirements which he had in view.
I replied that I thought His Highness must admit that our dis
cussion had been full and exhaustive, bearing in mind that all these
matters had already been comprehensively debated at various meet
ings and conferences that had taken place, and I did not think that
he could accuse me of impatience if I expressed the opinion that we
were beginning to go round in a circle. The time was drawing
close when we must make up our minds and come to a decision.
That was why I had prepared this draft agreement, which I thought
would clarify the situation and help us to make some definite pro
gress.
Ibn Sa‘ud agreed that, as I had now recorded my views in the
form of a draft agreement, he would do the same in a similar docu
ment, agreeing wherever he could and putting forward counter
proposals on points where we were at variance.
I noted that His Highness would examine the draft agreement
and put up counter-proposals, but I warned him that I had gone as
far as I could in regard to the principle to which he attached so much
importance.
Ibn Sa‘ud assured me that his obstinacy arose from his love of
truth and from his earnest desire that when I left I should take with
me a promise that could be honoured and fulfilled.
I replied that I welcomed his frankness, but that we must come
to an early settlement.
Ibn SaTid agreed to prepare his proposals and to submit them
during the afternoon, so that they might be considered at an early
meeting.
The sitting ended at 11.30 a.m.
Seventh Meeting.
I he seventh meeting took place at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the 21 st
October, attendance being the same as at the previous meeting. I
I informed Ibn Sa'ud that I had examined his counter-proposals
and that my observations regarding them fell into two categories: