'File 61/14 VII (D 51) Relations between Nejd and Iraq' [‎164v] (345/416)

lesson upon them. This decision was communicated to King Ibn Saud and was put
into effect without delay.
4. In the meantime these constant Akhwan raids had had the effect of seriously
unsettling the Iraq tribe of Anizah, one of the most powerful tribal confederations
in Iraq. Towards the end of December the High Commissioner reported that, unless
effective measures were taken to prevent further raids and to restore the confidence
of this tribe, there was a serious danger that they would throw off their allegiance
to Iraq. He explained that, owing to the immense stretch of frontier, and the great
distance involved, it was almost impossible for British aircraft to catch the raiders
red-handed and to inflict punishment upon them within Iraq territory. After full
consideration. His Britannic Majesty's Government decided to extend air action
beyond the Iraq frontier in order to deny an area of grazing grounds to the Akhwan.
Early in January, and after the lapse of some two months since the initial incursion
had taken place, during which further raids had occurred and King Ibn Saud had
apparently taken no effective measures to restrain his recalcitrant subjects, the
authority for the adoption of this measure was given and King Ibn Saud was notified
accordingly. Advance aircraft and armoured-car bases were pushed forward to the
vicinity of the frontier and notices were dropped warning tribes to move out of the
area which was to be denied to the Akhwan. This action, coupled with constant air
reconnaissances, was sufficient to restore the confidence of the Iraqi tribes, and for
some three weeks the raiding activities on the part of the Mutair were suspended.
At the end of January, however, further raids occurred, culminating in a raid upon
Iraq and Koweit tribesmen by some 2,000 of the Akhwan who penetrated to a depth
of some 65 miles. The raiders were attacked by British aircraft, and are understood
to have suffered severe losses.
5. As you are aware King Ibn Saud had hitherto endeavoured to justify
himself and his tribes by the contention that the Iraq Government had broken their
treaty pledges, and thus to excuse his failure to prevent the raids and to administer
punishment. He now represented that the crossing of his frontier by British aero
planes was a violation of his territory. These aeroplanes, he alleged, by bombing
guilty and innocent alike, had so outraged the feelings of his people that he had
had to abandon measures which he had already set in motion for the control and
punishment of the Mutair, his work of pacification had been destroyed and he could
no longer control the feelings of his people. In regard to this allegation, the High
Commissioner for Iraq telegraphed on the 19th March in the following terms
" It is important to emphasise and to keep on emphasising that no human
beings have been bombed other than those pursued hot-foot after the raids in
Koweit territory of the 27th January and at Jarishan in Iraq on the 19th
February. A few bombs were dropped in the neighbourhood of encampments
in the zone of operations within Nejd territory during the period the 18th
January to the 2nd February, in order to frighten them into obeying the
warnings already scattered. Only four or five camels were killed. No human
beings were hit."
6. In response to the King's message. His Britannic Majesty's Government
replied that, in order to assist him to regain control and provided that His Majesty
would give assurances that he would prevent further raids and would punish the
offenders and exact full reparation, orders would be issued that no aircraft should
cross the Nejd frontier except in hot pursuit of raiders. At the same time, His
Britannic Majesty's Government repeated a suggestion previously made by them on
several occasions that a meeting should be arranged between His Majesty and the
British Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to discuss the questions in dispute. His
Majesty did not accept this invitation, nor did he give the assurances for which His
Britannic Majesty's Government had asked, but merely reiterated his previous
protests. Meanwhile, rumours became current that all the Akhwan were joining
with the Mutair in a regular jihad (holy war) against the non-Akhwan States
of Iraq, 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 and Koweit, and that King Ibn Saud (himself powerless to
prevent it) had been forced to associate himself with this movement. Later infor
mation, however, threw doubt upon these rumours, and indicated that King Ibn Saud
had dissociated himself from the movement. Subsequently it became apparent that
he had regained control.
7. Throughout his letters King Ibn Saud maintained that the establishment
of the Busaiyah post or any similar police posts was a contravention of the Uqair
Protocol, and he continued to press for its abolition as providing the only solution
of the present trouble.