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'File 61/14 II (D 46) Relations between Nejd and 'Iraq' [‎7v] (25/466)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (231 folios). It was created in 7 Jan 1927-31 Dec 1927. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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the Christian Powers. It is most unlikely that, with this burden to bear, confused
by a worthless and ever-changing entourage, Ibn Saud is himself meditating bringing
help to the Syrian Nationalists, as the French seemed to fear some months ago, or is
eager to measure his strength with that of the Imam Yahya.
6. There is confirmation of this in a conversation which a close friend of
Ibn Saud and a man of moderate opinions had a day or two ago with a member of
the staff of this agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . Ibn Saud, this informant said, had no illusions about
affairs in the Arab peninsula. Between its sovereigns no fundamental harmony was
possible, for it was their nature each to seize any opportunity of crushing another.
But Ibn Saud did not view the rumours about the Imam's hostile intentions towards
him with much concern. Not one of the Arab princes was at liberty, or had the
power to' attack another. The Imam, for example, had internal troubles in the
Yemen, where rivals were working against him. Two of the Zeidi sheikhs sub
ordinate to him were, one openly, one secretly, aspiring to the imamate, and these
pretenders were attempting to induce Ibn Saud to help them; apart from that, some
of the Zeidi tribes were refractory. Again, the Imam had the British Government
against him. He had the Idrisi still to count with. The Idnsi was not dead, he
had fighting men still at his call, and if he could be helped with arms and ammunition
he could still give the Imam something to ponder over. Lastly, the Imam was so
miserly that he would think twice before pouring out his gold to no purpose.
7. There may have been an indirect appeal in this conversation. However,
its chief importance is that, in conjunction with the statement made to von Weisl, it
provides a basis for building up a theory of Ibn Saud s attitude towards the Imam.
That attitude might very reasonably be as follows : Ibn Saud has no particular
sympathy for the Imam, and feels that the Imam is not particularly friendly to
himself. Some day it may come to a trial of strength between them. If a connict
came, Ibn Saud is in quite as good a position as his rival. Each has worries at
home which should make for peace. But if the Imam wants to throw down a
challenge, let him try to absorb what is left of Asir. Should he take that line, the
present policy of indifference assumed by Ibn Saud might have to be revised. Let
the Imam think well over his situation before antagonising the British on one side
and Ibn Saud on the other.
8. Meanwhile, it is reported that 2,000 troops have been sent recently to the
southern frontier posts. But, as if to prove that he has no hostile intention at
present against the Imam, Ibn Saud has gone on his long-promised tour to Medina,
for which he professes a love " like that of the Prophet. ' His Majesty seems to
dislike heartily the climate of Mecca and Jeddah, and his remarks suggest nostalgia
for the drier air of the desert uplands of Nejd. He spent a week m Jeddah on
the way, and it is considered here that, now the King has finally gone, his absence
will be a long one. He himself speaks of an absence of some months. After his
stay in Medina, he may extend his tour to Nejd and perhaps Riyadh, which he has
not seen for a year and a half.
9. On contact with Ibn Saud it is impossible not to admire the King's fairness,
his shrewdness and his frank simplicity. The pity is that he has not found
counsellors to help him in a task of government for which one man alone is physically
incapable. Personal greed and private jealousies are no less present round Ibn Saud
than they were round King Ali. I have mentioned this fact at this point because
it may possibly have a bearing on His Majesty's momentary attitude towards Iraq
and 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 . Against both he expresses himself in terms of irritation. He
seems at present to feel that he got the worst of the Bahra and Hadda Agreements
and that they fetter him, while they have not reduced trouble on the frontiers. As
far as raiding during the last six months goes, he feels that his tribesmen are on the
credit side, and claims that if he had not restrained them they would have balanced
the account long ago.
10. He appears to have been specially disappointed by the break-up of the
conference at Ma'an between his representative and those of 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 , to which
reference was made in the last Jeddah report, paragraph 13. Indeed, the failure
of that meeting seems momentarily to have spoilt the pitch for future meetings of
the Hadda tribunal, which was founded to settle such disputes. However, when it
has been made clear to the King that the failure of the meeting w T as entirely due to
the preposterous behaviour of two persons who attended as semi-official Nejd
delegates, his faith in tribunals may revive. The present task of this agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. will be
to reassure him that the British officials in 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 take the tribunal as a serious
matter, and will not brook external interferences with its proceedings.

About this item

Content

The volume contains letters, telegrams, and memoranda relating to affairs between the British Mandate of Iraq and the Kingdom of Najd and the Hejaz, ruled by Ibn Sa'ud. Most of the correspondence is between the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in Bushire, the Political Agencies in Bahrain and Kuwait, the High Commissioner in Baghdad, the Colonial Office in London, the Government of India, and Ibn Sa'ud himself.

The majority of the volume contains documents relating to affairs along the Najd-Iraq border and is concerned with planning and preparations for a tribunal to settle claims for compensation between the two parties, as stipulated in the Bahra Agreement. The latter half of the volume contains documents relating to an attack by Ikhwan forces on a military post in Basaiyah [al-Başīyah], Iraq, that marked the beginning of the Ikhwan Revolt.

Extent and format
1 volume (231 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the sequence starts from the spine (which has been separated from the volume) and terminates on the inside back cover. The numbers are written in pencil, circled, and are found in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. There are the following irregularities: 1A, 1B, and 1C; 2A and 2B. A second, inconsistent sequence runs between folios 3-223. The numbers are also written in pencil in the same place as the main sequence, but they are not circled.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 61/14 II (D 46) Relations between Nejd and 'Iraq' [‎7v] (25/466), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/578, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023518327.0x00001a> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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