'File 61/14 I (D 45) Relations between Nejd and 'Iraq' [‎73r] (159/606)

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61/14 and 61/15.
Telegram P.
From High Gommr., Baghdad.
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To Colonial Office. No.l^.
Repeated to Knox, Jerusalem and Bushire, Ko.SO-S.
Dated 7th received Sth April 192^.
PRIORITY.
written report now received from Captain Driver, Special
Service Officer, who has visited all scattered camps of refugees
from the Akhwan raid and carefully collated and tested evidence
from various sections, contains the conclusion that 1^6 xamen
and 127 women and children were killed by the Akhwan,,and 26,§00
sheep, 3,710 donkeys, 5 horses and 2 camels carried off. The
Akhwan killed all the male wounded and prisoners both men and boys
but spared the women, casualties among the latter being due to
rifle fire at the time of the attack. The attacking force
numbered between 12,000 and 16,000, and was commanded in person
by Feisal al Dawish, the principle lieutenant of "Bin Saud.
The attack took place on the morning of March l^th, led by
horsemen who -were subsequently reinforced by a large body of
camelmen. The fighting continued until sunset, and the Akhwan
force camped on the battlefield for three days after the attack.
* The area raided iwas a network of nullahs in the neighbourhood of
Umm- e1-Hashim Just within the Iraq border. I will now respectful-
-ly examine the argument that Bin SadLd was not more responsible
for this raid than the Iraq Government for the Sahmmar raids of
last summer, and that the two sets of raids can be treated as
parallel. In the case of the Akhwan raid, firstly there was a
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conference aittlng to discuss relations between the two States,
which entails a very special measure of abstinence from provoc-
-ation on both sides; secondly. Bin Saud had, on grouhds which
were shown in my telegram n0 .II3 of the 4th March to be completely
inadequate, officially threatened in a letter dated 22nd February
^924 that he would not restrain his tribes from attacks on Iraq
and as mentioned in para kof the sane telegrair. there were reports
for days before the raid of preparttiens being openly made for it
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