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'File 61/11 IX (D 159) Nejd-Hejaz Miscellaneous' [41v] (93/391)
The record is made up of 1 volume (192 folios). It was created in 4 Apr 1939-16 Jan 1942. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
2
Enclosure.
Record of Conversations between M. Ballereau, French Minister at Jedda, and
Sheikh Yusuf Yasin and the Amir Feisal.—{Communicated by Sheikh Yusuf
Yasin to Mr. Trott at Jedda on July 18, 1939.)
IBN SAUD realised that it was extremely important that the relations
between the French and the British Governments should be close and cordial
Their own interests prompted this policy. It was therefore to be hoped that
both the British and the French would be friendly with all the Arab nations,
especially with those which border or are very close to Saudi Arabia; in fact,
with Syria and Palestine. Ibn Saud has therefore done his best confidentially
to help to settle the question of Syria and Palestine in an amicable way. For
instance, he sent his letter to Nuri
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
A1 Said.
But the Saudi action was conditioned by four main principles :—
{a) Ibn Saud did not wish to intervene in the Syrian dispute in any way.
(5) But, if he felt in danger, he would feel obliged to change his attitude.
(c) There were two events which would make him feel in danger :—
(1) If the Turks penetrated any further into the Arab countries, Ibn Saud
would regard that as a threat to his independence.
(2) If the Throne of Syria was granted to a member of the Hashimite family,
and still more if it was granted to the Amir Abdullah, he would consider that
a hostile act and a threat to his independence.
(M. Ballereau, in reply to point (1), said that the recent treaty about Hatay
had no clauses other than those which were well known; there were no other
conditions or engagements about further acquisitions of territory by Turkey.
As for (2), he said that it was not possible to appoint the Amir Abdullah to
the throne; and that he would make sure on this point by referring to his
Government for their confirmation.)
{d) Ibn Saud realised that it was to the interests of the British and the
French Governments to have a peaceful state of affairs in Syria and Palestine,
especially with the present situation in Europe, and Ibn Saud was prepared to
co-operate to that end, and to help as far as he could to settle the Syrian
question on the basis of securing French interests and protecting those of the
Syrians. Trouble in Syria had repercussions in Saudi Arabia, and for that
reason Ibn Saud wanted to help towards a just solution.
M. Ballereau spoke at some length about the Throne of Syria. He pointed
out that the idea originated with the High Commissioner, who made certain
tentative enquiries in a vague way. The personal opinion of M. Ballereau was
that the best candidate for the Throne of Syria was the Amir Feisal. He knew
that that was also the view of M. Puaux, and of several other prominent
personages in the Government of Syria. There were, however, other opinions;
some took the view that the appointment of the Amir Feisal would be unacceptable
to His ivlajesty s Government m the united Kingdom, because in that case
the rule of King Ibn Saud would gradually extend to'Trans Jordan and Palestine,
bneikh Yusuf Y asin did not know whether what M. Ballereau said on this
point was true or not. But he was authorised to say that, if it would help
towards a general settlement in Syria to have the Amir Feisal on the throne,
Ibn Saud would accept that solution, though he knew that such an extension of
his responsibilities would be a heavy burden.
Sheikh \ usuf Yasin told 1VI. Ballereau that the King quite saw how essential
it was from the French point of view that an agreement should be reached with
Turkey so as to settle the question of the northern neighbours of Syria. The
King could not help saying that as an Arab he had no confidence whatever in
any treaty or other engagement signed by the Turks, who would attack Syria
and Iraq to-morrow if they felt that there was any chance of success owinff to
any weakening by France or Britain. It was not that the Arabs hated "the
urks. They wanted to live m amity and in neighbourly relations with them.
But they felt that the Turks were not to be trusted, and the Saudi Government
About this item
- Content
The volume consists of letters, telegrams, and reports relating to the affairs of Saudi Arabia. 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 Foreign Office in London, the Political Agencies in Kuwait and Bahrain, the 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. in London, and the Government of India.
The volume covers the build up to and outbreak of the Second World War and thus much of the correspondence focuses on this subject. Topics include:
- the activities of the Germans, Italians, and Japanese in the region;
- Ibn Sa'ud's allegiance to Britain and the Allies;
- Ibn Sa'ud's anxiety about Hashemite dominance in Syria and potential attack from hostile Arab nations;
- anti-Allied sentiment in the region;
- the financial and political contribution of the United States of America.
Other subjects covered by the volume are:
- the maintenance of law and order in the Kingdom;
- the presence of community feeling and national identity;
- Captain De Gaury's journeys in Saudi Arabia, including a report on agricultural development at Kharj, and the objection to his proposed tour of all of Arabia;
- Amir Sa'ud's trip to India for medical treatment;
- the anti-British activities of St John Philby and his subsequent arrest in India.
At the back of the volume (folios 177-186) are internal office notes.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (192 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged chronologically.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The sequence starts on the first folio and continues through to the inside back cover. The numbering is 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'. of each folio. The first three folios are marked 1A, 1B, and 1C respectively, then the sequence continues from 2 as normal. There is one other foliation system, written in pencil and inconsistent.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/572
- Title
- 'File 61/11 IX (D 159) Nejd-Hejaz Miscellaneous'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 1r:1v, 1br:1cv, 2r:43r, 44v:58v, 60r:166r, 166r:189v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence