'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎187r] (373/434)

Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter No. P. Z. 6118/37, dated the
14th September 1937.
Received on 3rd October 1937 with Political Secretary's letter No. 37, dated the
1st September 1937.
Letter from Foreign Office, London, to the Secretary, Chiefs of
Staff Sub-Committee, Committee of Imperial Defence, No. E.
5126/22/31, dated the 13th September 1937.
I am directed by Mr. Neville Chamberlain to transmit to you the ac
companying copies of two letters addressed by this department to the Colonial
Office on the 12th August, together with copies of the two telegrams from
Sir Reader Bullard referred to therein, in regard to the claim of King Ibn
Saud to Aqaba and Maan and to a corridor from Saudi Arabia through Trans
jordan territory to Syria.
2. Mr. Chamberlain will be grateful if the strategic aspects of these
demands may be considered by the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee and if
he may be furnished with a report thereon at their early convenience.
(54)
Enclosure in Admiralty covering letter No. P. Z. 6170/37, dated the 16th
September 1937.
Enclosure in Air Mail letter No. 38, dated the 22nd September 1937, from
Secretary. Political and Secret Department, 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. .
Letter from Admiralty, London, to Foreign Office, S. W. 1, No. M. O.
4444/37, dated the 16th September 1937.
With reference to your letters Nos. E. 4458/22/31 and E. 5126/22/31, dated
the 12th August and 14th September 1937, respectively, enclosing copies
of correspondence concerning the claim of King Ibn Saud to Aqaba and
Maan, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to
acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
that they concur in the action that has been taken to refer the strategic
aspects of the matter referred to therein to the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee
of the Committee of Imperial Defence for consideration. So far as the Ad
miralty are concerned, no strategical interests of any importance are in
volved in the Gulf of Aqaba, and My Lords see no reason for a Mandated
enclave in the area.
2. With regard to the question of establishing a satisfactory anchorage
of the section of coast lying between the existing town of Aqaba and the
Egyptian frontier, I am to inform you that the head of the Gulf of Aqaba is
subject to occasional very strong south-south-westerly winds which raise a
heavy sea, and that there is no protected port at Aqaba, which is an open
roadstead.
3. There is, however, anchorage water at the north-w r est side of the head
of the Gulf, and it would be possible to build a breakwater for protection
from southerly winds and to make a port there between Aqaba and the
Egyptian Frontier which could form a port of outlet to the Red Sea for the
Arab and Jewish States in the event of Aqaba being ceded to Ibn Saud. A
copy of Chart No. 3595, showing the anchorage and breakwater proposed,
is attached.
Copies of this letter, without enclosure, have been sent to the War Office,
Air Ministry, Treasury, Colonial Office, 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. , and the Secretary of the
Middle East Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence.
69(C) ExAffairsDept.