'File 61/14 VIII (D 55) Relations Between Nejd And Iraq' [‎76v] (158/782)

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has hitherto been able to do, the passions of his subjects, and that the responsibility
for what may consequently occur should not be borne by him. The letter is also
interesting in that it supplies what is without doubt an authentic version of the
proceedings of the Riyadh Conference. The King does not pretend, as did the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping.
of the " Um-el-Kura " version, that the chiefs and ulema were unanimous in
accepting the King's views. There still remain, Ibn Saud states, those whom he
has not been able to convince that a policy of patience and deliberation is in the best
interests of Nejd.
7. I have addressed a copy of this despatch and its enclosure to His Majesty's
High Commissioner for Iraq.
I have, &c.
F. H. W. STONEIIEWER-RTRD.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Ihn Saud to Mr. Stoneheiver-Bird.
(Translation.)
WE have received your letters dated 24.7.1347 (5th January, 1929), and we beg
you to convey to the British Government our reply to the two letters as follows :—
1. It would have interested us to receive the news your Excellency related
concerning Mr. Glubb from the British Government, who, we believe, test the informa
tion which reaches them instead of from Mr. Glubb, who, so far as we believe, acts
on the frontiers against the wishes and contrary to the interests of the British
Government, thus disturbing the clear relations between the two countries and
increasing the difficulties of the situation.
2. The raid reported to have been made by Ibn Ashwan is apparently not true,
and the aggression of Mr. Glubb on those Arabs of our subjects who were proceeding
for pasturage in the desert was an unjustifiable aggression, and was based on the
reports of some Bedouins in whose statements no reliance can be placed. As
i« mentioned in the letter, the result was that three men were killed and twelve
camels destroyed. We protest against this action and claim the necessary
compensation.
3. As to the rumour reported to the British Government to the effect that we
have allowed some of the tribes to make a raid on a large scale against Iraq, this,
we believe, is one of the reports which Mr. Glubb spreads at the frontiers in order to
kindle the fire on both sides. For, on the one hand, he excites the people of Nejd
by his movements and assemblies, and, on the other, sends disturbing news to the
British Government about the Nejd people in order that they f ? His Majesty's
Government] may make increased movements and preparations, consequently
increasing the excitation of the Nejd people, and thus making the outbreak of
bloody events inevitable. This action, as the British Government will realise *is one
of the most dangerous and repulsive menaces to peace on the frontiers.
4. It is beyond dispute that when the negotations between us and his Excellency
General Clayton were broken off owing to a failure to arrive at any agreement, the
position in Nejd and at the frontiers was dangerous to the last degree, and it was
to our belief almost impossible that we should succeed maintaining the direction
of affairs, but we pursued the matter and exerted our best endeavours to maintain
peace throughout the vicinity of the frontier. We spent very considerable sums
of money in this way until we prevented the occurrence of any incident. In spite
of the critical position our subjects were not concerned in any incident whatever
on the frontier after the breakdown of the negotiations. We gathered the Amirs
of Nejd, its ulema and chiefs, and the thoughtful people there, and all completely
agreed that those inauspicious posts were built in contravention of the agreement,
that there could be no content while they remained, and that duty dictated that
whatever was possible should be done to remove them. They found that they were
one of the greatest dangers threatening not only Nejd and 'its people, but also the
Nejd realm.
We did our best in conference to convince the people of the necessity for patience
and deliberation in the matter and for the continuation of peaceful endeavours to
remove those posts. Some of them were guided by our views, others considered that
to remain patient concerning them would increase the danger to Nejd. These people
are those we are seeking to persuade to be patient and deliberate although we believe,
as the British Government know, that they in their insistence are right to consider
the building of those inauspicious posts unlawful.