'Eastern Bureau, Basrah Branch' [‎58] (111/188)

What wculd have been the upshot of a treaty which so imperfectly re
flected the convictions of the contracting parties can scarcely admit of doubt
The guiding trait of ibn Sa'ud's character is what must be called a racial
rather than a national patriotism, but this sentiment was not likely to evoke
sympathetic consideration from the leaders of the Committee of Union and
Progress, who were blindly determined on the Ottomanization of the Arabs.
As a strict Wahabi, the new Wali of Najd looked with abhorrence on the
loose religions principles of the Turks and was far from admitting their
pretensions to represent and direct Islam. He had, in conversation with
Captain Shakespear, spoken with unexpected vehemence on this point, saying
that in his eyes the infidel was preferable to the Turk, since the latter broke
the rule he yrofessed to follow while the former acted in accordance with his
own law, and to the same listener he declared that he had accepted the terms
of the agreement only because he was assured privately that even the
. . oo ^ t i small measure of sovereigntv accorded to
Arab Bureau, 22nd July 1916. mi u i i • i mi
Turkey would never be claimed. The
Kuwait treaty was put to the test by the outbreak of the European war and
found wanting.
The disquieting attitude adopted by Turkey on the outbreak of war
between Germany and the Entente Powers produced a profound altera
tion in our policy towards the Porte. It became necessary to reckon up our
assets in Arabia, and early in October Captain Shakespear, who was in England,
was ordered to return to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and get into touch with Ibn Sa'ud
so as to prevent if possible the outbreak of unrest in the interior, and in the
event of war with Turkey to ensure that no assistance should be rendered from
that quarter. Before he could reach his destination war had been declared.
A message had been despatched to ibn Sa'ud informing him of Captain
fehakespear's impending visit, recognizing his position in Najd and the Hasa
and guaranteeing him against reprisals by sea or land if he would commit
himself to enter the lists against Turkey. The Turks, on their side, lost no time
in approaching the Amirs of Central Arabia. Their scheme, which was that
ibn llashid should aid in the campaign against Egypt while ibn Sa'ud
opposed the British advance in Mesopotamia, showed that they were as
unaware of the feeling towards them which prevailed among the Arabs as they
were ignorant of the conditions of the desert, where the network of
tribal feud permits no man to withdraw his forces on a distant expedi
tion without fear of attack on his unprotected possessions Ibn Sa'ud,
apparently in order to gain time, took advantage of his abiding enmity
with ibn Rashid and launched into open hostilities against him. In
vain Enver Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. urged him to abandon private quarrels, sent him a gift
of money for the expenses of co-operation with the Sultan's armies,
and ultimately entrusted Saiyid Talib with the task of bringing about a re
conciliation. At this juncture Saiyid Talib was busily engaged in endeavour
ing through the intermediation of Shaikh Khaz'al and His Majesty's Consul at
Muhammareh to drive a bargain with the British Government providing for
his adherence to us in the event of war with Turkey, but the terms which he
put forward were so extravagant as to be impossible of acceptance, and he was
still hesitating over Shaikh Khaz'al's advice to him to abate them when the
declaration of war left him stranded. Then it was that he saw in his proposed
deputation to Najd a providential means of escape from Basrah where his
position had now become highly precarious, and he left hurriedly for Ibn Sa'ud's
camp, via Zubair. Meanwhile the Wahabi Chief, in response to Turkish ex
hortation, had pleaded that he could spare no troops for the 'Iraq till he had
reduced ibn Bashid to his rightful state of vassalage. To the British message
he replied that he was unshaken in his long-standing desire for intimate rela
tions with us. But he was not unnaturally reluctant to take open part with
us until he was satisfied that our change of front towards himself was likely to
be permanent, and in spile of his personal confidence in Captain Shakespear
it was with some misgiving that he consented to his visit. The meeting took
place on December 31st at Khufsah near Majma' in Sudair. Ibn Sa'ud spoke
with great frankness. Before compromising himself wholly with the Turks
he asked that our assurances of support should be embodied in a formal treaty.