'Historical Memorandum on the Relations of the Wahabi Amirs and Ibn Saud with Eastern Arabia and the British Government, 1800-1934' [‎21r] (41/64)

Endeavours were meanwhile proceeding in London to assist in the
reaching of an understanding between the Turks and Ibn Saud. A memorandum
nr I? ^ by Sir Percy Cox and . communicated to Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. on
9th March 1914 remarked that our requirements of Ibn Saud for the maintenance
and protection of our interests included inter alia “that he should not meddle in
the territory or politics of Arab principalities in the Gulf, including the Trucial
Coast and Qatar.” Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. replied that he must refer the matter to his
Government, and the Resident was instructed to inform Ibn Saud that H.M.
Government were endeavouring to effect an arrangement with the Turkish
Government and to warn him not to act independently. The Ambassador in
Constantinople on 2 nd April 1914 urged the desirability of watching the situation
and awaiting further developments, the Turkish Government having intimated
that they had a strong hope of coming to a settlement themselves.
Treaty of 15th May 1914 between Ibn Saud and Turkey.
178. On 15th May 1914 a treaty (the original of which was found during
tne war among Turkish records at Basra) was concluded between Ibn Saud and
the Turkish Government. The text of the treaty is reproduced in Appendix A.
It will be seen that it proceeds on the basis that Ibn Saud is a Turkish subject
and vassal.
Anglo-Turkish Convention of 9th March 1914.
179. On 9th March 1914 H.M. Government concluded a further Convention
(ratified on 3rd June 1914) with Turkey, which provided that the line separating
British and Turkish Spheres in South-Western Arabia should rejoin “dans le
Ruba-al-Khali, sur le parallele 20°, la ligne droite et directe vers le sud qui part
d un point sur la rive meridionale du golfe d’Oudjeir et qui separe le territoire
Ottoman du sandjak de Nedjd du territoire d’El Katr, en conformite de
Tarticle 11 de la Convention anglo-ottomane du 29 juillet 1913 relatif au Golfe
Persique et aux territoires environnants.”
180. ^ On 4th June 1914 the Foreign Office, the news of the conclusion of
Ibn Saud’s treaty with Turkey not yet having been made public, strongly urged
the importance of avoiding any action which might lend colour to suspicions that
H.M. Government were supporting Ibn Saud’s policy of “making himself
independent,” and in the same connection referred to him as “ a Turkish subject
and specifically recognised as such by the Anglo-Turkish Convention of
29th July 1913. Sir E. Grey is, in fact, convinced that it would not be compatible
with our engagements that Ibn Saud should be treated otherwise, or that
independent communications with him should be held except in cases where they
■cannot be avoided.”
Summary, 1901 to 1914.
181. From the above it will be seen that Ibn Saud, emerging as the repre
sentative of the Saudi family and capturing Riyadh from Ibn Rashid in 1901,
by 1913 had consolidated his position in Nejd, and in the same year drove the
Turks out of Hasa. His repeated overtures to H.M. Government between 1901
and 1913 with a view to securing their protection against the Turks had
no result. In May 1914 he accepted the position of Turkish Wali of Nejd and
concluded an understanding with a duly authorised Turkish representative, the
basis of which was that he was an Ottoman subject and lieutenant of the Ottoman
Porte in this area.
V.—From the outbreak of the Great War to the opening of the Blue Line
Discussions, 1914-1934.
British Offers to Ibn Saud in return for his Co-operation against Turkey.
182 . The importance of securing the support of Ibn Saud and the Arab
Rulers of the Gulf (or, at any rate, of preventing them from giving active support
to the Turks) in the event of war with Turkey was patent; and H.M. Government
decided that Ibn Saud should be informed that, in return for his co-operation
P.Z.4569/16
Aitch. XII,
No. i,
pp. 42-8.
F.O. to I.O.,
4.6.14.
P. 3683/14,
3848/14.