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'File 61/11 IV (D 77) Hejaz-Nejd, Miscellaneous' [‎83r] (175/366)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (182 folios). It was created in 17 Feb 1930-4 Apr 1932. It was written in English. 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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6. The King said that there was nothing in the general sitnation in Arabia
to cause anxiety. The situation might, however, change. He was the friend of
Great Britain, whatever might befall. It any change occurred, ii, for instance,
His Majesty's Government had dilficulties in neighbouring countries (I do not
recollect very clearly the words used, but this was implied if not stated), he \vould
like to know where he stood. What acts would His Majesty's Government wish
him to avoid ? In what positive way could he assist them in case of need ? I liese
were the questions which he had sought to elucidate in the past through Sir P. ^ ox
and Sir G. Clayton. He was asking me now to obtain answers to them. How
did he stand ? He did not mean that his friendship depended on the answer.
He would be Great Britain's friend as he had always been, if they needed his
friendship. He was not making it a matter of bargaining.
7. I undertook to convey His Majesty's statement to His Majesty's Govern
ment. I added that I could hardly venture to say much myself, but that 1 should
like to offer a few observations. On this the King said that he was not only
giving me a message, but seeking my personal advice. He did not wish to say
anything that might produce a bad effect or breed suspicion.
8. Thus encouraged. I said rather more than 1 at first intended. 1
reminded the King that he had sent Sheikh Yussuf Yasin to speak to me on t 1 e
1st April about his perturbation over the apparent tension between Great Britain
and himself. 1 had told the sheikh that His Majesty's Government's fundamental
attitude of friendship towards the King had not chano-ed. and had stressed the
fact that His Majesty's Government dealt with particular questions on their
merits. I had not disguised the danger of general relations being affected by
such a question as that of the 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 frontier, but the danger had now been
averted. The language I had used to Sheikh Yussuf and similar language on
other occasions had been approved.
9. I spoke of the bases of our friendship with Ibn Sand. Old association
was a factor in it;.that always counted for something. The impression which he
created personally was another factor; those of my countrymen who had had
intercourse with him had always, in my experience, been attracted by his
personality. The greatest factor of all was, however, the fact that His Majesty's
Government saw in him an element of stability in a country where they desired
stability. We were a nation of shopkeepers and wanted stability everywhere.
We had a more special interest in stability in Arabia for reasons into which I
would not enter, as I did not wish to be too lengthy.
10. The King, I said, had sought my advice about his message to His
Majesty's Government. I did not dissuade him from sending it; I could not
encourage him to hope for a definite reply. I knew little of what Sir P. Cox had
done in Arabia, but I had known him otherwise. Whatever turn he might give
to a matter, neither he nor Sir G. Clayton were men who would fail to report
fully anything the King had said. If he had elicited no answer, I thought it
was because his questions related to a hypothetical case. It was a fixed principle
with His Majesty's Government to deal with questions as they arose, and they
had a horror of defining an attitude in regard to hypothetical cases. I enlarged
on this.
11. On this the King admitted that he could not expect a definite answer
to his questions. What he wanted was to expound his views to His Majesty s
Government and (this was implied rather than stated) to enlist my assistance.
12. I took the opportunity of begging the King to believe that I was sincerely
well-disposed towards him and his country. I would, and did, represent his
views to my Government. As I had told Fuad Bey, final instructions might differ
from original instructions as a result of my suggestions, but final instructions
must be carried out. The representative of a Government was like a chisel in the
hands of a carpenter, an essential tool, but worked by the carpenter.
13. The King appreciated this. He suggested, however, that before'
carrying out instructions I should ascertain his Government s side of the case, in
order that it might be taken into account. I did not analyse this obviously
impossible suggestion. I assured the King of my good dispositions, and said
that I had used the analogy of the chisel advisedly. It was a necessary tool and
it must be sharp, so that it could be used in the carpenter's hand to produce things
of beauty; it might also make rude cuts. I said I was sure that if we could get
the 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 problem out of the way, there was nothing to trouble relations.
I reminded the King of his promise to receive the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the

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Content

The volume contains letters, telegrams, and memoranda relating to Hejaz affairs. Most of the correspondence is between the British Legation in Jeddah, 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 Foreign and Colonial Offices in London, and the Government of India.

The majority of the volume concerns the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Hejaz-Najd and its Dependencies, especially the financial difficulties it was experiencing at the time and attempts to counter them.

Other subjects covered are:

  • the prospect of the Kingdom joining the League of Nations;
  • the appointment of a Minister in London;
  • al-Qusaibi's proposed visit to London;
  • the different uses of the title "Sheikh";
  • American recognition of Ibn Sa'ud as King;
  • the mineral prospecting of the American millionaire Mr C. R. Crane;
  • American appraisal of the water situation in the region;
  • the religious policing activities of the Committee of Virtue in the Hejaz;
  • the arrest of two members of the royal family between Kuwait and Zubair;
  • the territorial dispute between Ibn Sa'ud and Yemen;
  • relations between Ibn Sa'ud and Italy.

A notable document within the volume is a confidential report on the heads of all foreign missions in Jeddah (folios 163-164).

At the back of the volume (folios 165-170) are office file notes.

Extent and format
1 volume (182 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged chronologically. There is a partial and non-alphabetical list of subjects at the front of the volume (folio 2). The list identifies some of the earlier subject correspondence in the volume and where it occurs, according to its original numbering, as folios 17 to 41a.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The sequence starts on the first page with ff 1A-1D and then continues from f 2 to the inside back cover. The numbers are written in pencil, circled and located 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. The are the following anomalies: f 38A; f 91A; f 108A; f 128A; f 146A; there is no f 119.

There are two more sequences that are inconsistent and incomplete.

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English in Latin script
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'File 61/11 IV (D 77) Hejaz-Nejd, Miscellaneous' [‎83r] (175/366), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/567, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023554071.0x0000b0> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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