'File 61/11 V (D 95) Hejaz - Nejd, Miscellaneous' [‎227r] (470/530)

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this document is the property of his britannic majesty's government
EASTEEN (A rabia).
CONFIDENTIAL.
[E 5990/759/25]
October 9, 1933.
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An S ection 1.
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Sir R. Graham to Sir John Simon.—{Received October 9.)
(No. 753.)
Sir, Rome, October 5, 1933.
WITH reference to my telegram No. 286, I send you herewith a record of a
conversation between a member of my staff and the head of the African Depart
ment at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, regarding the relations between the
Imam Yahya and King Ibn Saud.
2. I have the impression that the Italian Government are greatly disturbed
over the situation in Asir. Indeed, Signor Suvich mentioned it himself to me the
other day and said it looked as if we were heading for war. It would accordingly
be of great assistance to me if all the arguments of the Italian Government {i.e.,
those contained in their various notes verbales and in the enclosed record of con
versation) could be carefully examined with a view to seeing whether any of their
desiderata can possibly be met. Should this not be the case, I think that a full
and reasoned reply to their representations would in any case be appreciated. In
view of the delicacy and complexity of the subject, I submit for your considera
tion that it might be desirable to'hold a meeting of experts, either here or in
London.
3. Nothing has so far appeared in the press, but it is fairly evident that this
silence would not be maintained in the event of actual hostilities between the
Yemen and the Hejaz-Nejd.
4. I am sending a further despatch to you on the subject by bag.
I have, &g.
E. GEAHAM.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Relations between the Imam and Ibn Saud.
I ASKED for an interview with Signor Guarnaschelli last night and told
him, in effect, that the Foreign Office did not desire to reply at length to the Italian
Government's note verbale of the 21st September, partly owing to the fact that
manv of the issues were still obscure, and partly owing to the Italian Government
being already aware of their attitude in regard,to Asir. Signor Guarna,schelli
did not seem" to think that the Italian Government were entirely aware of it so i
referred him to our note verhale of the 24th July 1931. I then gave him verbally
a literal translation in French of the second paragraph of Foreign Office
telegram ^No 314
I Signor Guarnaschelli thanked me for my commumcation but w^ quite
obviously disappointed with it. He said the Italian Government s note had been
drafted in no polemical spirit (a remark with which I that
it was a reasoned expose of their attitude, and that he had hoped it would not
have been entirely without effect in London. He then repea e o me ,® w ®
known Italian arguments in regard to Asir, laying stress on the fact that the
Imam had not coifmitted any aggressive act against ^ Jrant
induce him to recognise Ibn Saud s position there. | A '• j t ^ at T mam
But he replied that was not, and never had been, part of
had just as much claim to it as Ibn Saud P 0 ® SI ^ ■i i i £ ar as
Asir is the coastal belt by Jizan, and remained
Najran.) As for the Jemtk ?oThe effect that the
S~ GovemLent had never said that a agreement did exist, but
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