'File 61/11 X (D 170) Nejd-Hejaz Miscellaneous' [‎126r] (264/554)

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French did not help to endear the latter whom he described as
"just a slice from the same old loaf 1 '# However, following his
policy that nothing must be done to hinder Britain 's war effort, he
• has constantly advised Syrian nationalist leaders, notably Shukri
Kuwatli for whom he has a high regard, to rely on the British declar-
terations of Syrian independence and to keep quiet until the war has
:• ...been won. He followed the lead of His Majesty's Government in
jjii recognising the Syrian Government.
lO e As regards Palestine his policy has followed the same lines,
no awkward questions to be raised during the war but confidence in
Britain's determination to implement her promises 0 A Saudi Consul-
;General was appointed during the year to reside at Jerusalem.
■V":' <
o : ; -, He Relations with Trans-Jordan were at one moment strained
V. owing to the somewhat tactless action of the Amir Abdullah in com-
bining in one telegram a message cf congratulation on the occasion
of the Ramadhan feast and some gratuitous advice to Ibn Saud as to
the manner in which he should deal with members of the Sherifian
: family in t^ie Hejaz implicated in a childish and futile plot against
.; the Saudi regime* Ibn Saud did not suspect that the Amir Abdullah
was implicated in the plot but felt that he was showing undue sym-
. : pathy with the guilty. The Amir's alleged intrigues in Syria also
aroused Ibn Saud's suspicions but a visit to i^nman by Abdul Aziz
-: Sudairi cleared the air and resulted in an exchange of gifts and
protestations of mutual regard®
,8^' ■ • ' '
Relations with Bgypt were good though there was some minor
, iepartmeastai about th# ot
new Jedda-'Mccoa road. Tht« road which Me an *&***&&
: :^nd is metalled for its whole length of forty-five miles was com-
.'.ipleted by the end of the year. The progress of the campaign in
.;Libya was naturally followed v/ith the closest attention. ^-bn Saud 's
. opinion of the attitude of the Egyptians and of the part they are
\ playing in the struggle is not high. The bombing of Cairo - centre
■^of Moslem culture - angered him and he issued a firm protest.
13. Progress was made during the year towards agreement on the
• , final texts of the Koweit-Saudi Bon Voisinage An agreement or treaty based on principles of 'good neighbourliness', often signed between countries which share borders. , Commeilcial and
". Extradition Agreements and there seemed, .good hope that they would
a 1%
^••jbe ready for signature early in the following ■>«
14, The decision of His Majesty's Government to occupy Persia
•, had Ibn Saud's entire approval. He disappr^vadof the hospitality
•accorded by the Persian Government to Axis agents and from the point
of view of his own security realised that the occupation extended
v: the barrier opposing any possible Axis advance towards his territory.
A pleasing immediate result of the occupation of Persia and the
removal of the Shah was the attendance at the pilgrimage of a greater
; number of Persian pilgrims than had been seen for many years.
15, The first reaction to the entry of Japan into the war was
'V, one of satisfaction that t^e^United States of America would play a
more active part in the war/inspite of the American reverse at pearl
Harbour it was felt that the Japanese had no hope of ultimate vict
ory, Ibn Saud had always felt that the United States of America
should be helping us not only with supplies but with men and had
even suggested for His Majesty's Government's consideration an appeal
by him to President Roosevelt in which he would point out that the
:British could not be expected to maintain strong forces at every
l; , .point and urging ;the President to send a strong American force to
Bti'yp t,
The question of Arab Federation was brought up by the Saudi
/Arab