File 2182/1913 Pt 11 'Arabia: relations with BIN SAUD Hedjaz-Nejd Dispute' [‎312v] (179/678)

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On the 30th November Lord Allenby reported that there was 'a constant rumour
that Hussein would resign and force his sons to accompany him when he left ihe
HeL He suggested that Abdullah should be invited to Cairo m Ins capacity as
Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Hejaz Government. . AXr1 ,
On the 1st December written instructions were given to Colonel Wilson as tofhe
line he should take with King Hussein on his return to Jeddah. He was to mfo..n
fm Lt the whole question of Ins relations with Ibn Sand had been discussed by His
Ma estv’s Government, who were of opinion that he had such a strong case that they
could not understand why he should decline to state it, either m person or before some
impartial arbiter to be appointed by His Majesty's Government. He was to point out
tha^at present there waFno question of demar~
British Commission. He was to suggest aud strongly urge that Mussem stiouia agree
lo meet Ibn Sand personally, which he had previously expressed h,s wd mguess to do
and to say that His Majesty’s Government would readily arrange foi the meet ^ to
take Place at Jeddah, Cairo or Aden. He was to point out that in the event oi Hussein
making difficulties about a personal interview, the alternative of a meeting of
plenipotentiaries would not be likely to produce so satisfactory a result
though His Majestv’s Government would prefer even this alternative to direct
intervention on their part. He was to impress U P 0, \ th "Chidt "even
miUtarv power of the Akhwan were let loose upon the He az, he might even
W Mecfa and thus incur the odium of the Moslem world in general. He was
llso to Tnform Hussein that Ibn Sand had demanded from His Majesty s Gover-
ment a definite recognition of his various claun=, but that he had been to a
His Majesty’s Government must decline even to discuss them until he hail made a
real effort to come to an agreement without their ^“^ 0 ^
to inform Hussein that nothing would give greater pleasure to His _Majesty b G
meat than to receive him in London in the course of the fol owmg year, hut that
before he came to England it was essential that the risk of hostilities between lumsel
and Ibn Sand should be entirely removed, so that troubles should not br^ o^ ikn^
his absence. He was to discuss Ins instructions with His Majesty s High Oommnsio
at Cairo before proceeding to Jeddah. . . c n i i
On the 4th December the Foreign Office enquired whether m view o Colm e
Wilson’s approaching return to Jeddah, Lord Allenby still considered Abdullah s visit
to Cairo t d h e e sl ^ 1 ® ecember Lord A n eri by replied that he considered Abdullah’s visit to
Cairo would be helpful in preparing the ground for a meeting between ussein an
Ibn Sauch^ ^ p) ecem ber the Foreign Office replied approving the suggestion that
Abdullah should be invited to Cairo. tW he
Qn the 13th December Lord Allenby made the alternative suggestion that lie
should himself visit Jeddah and discuss with Hussein personally. Un me
15th December the Foreign Office approved this proposal.
On the 17th December a copy of a telegram of the bth December irom the Civ
Commissioner at Baghdad was received in the Foreign Office, ibis telegrain statod
that Ibn Sand had reported on the 22nd November that Husseins two sons Ah a
Abdullah, with several notables, had left Tail, accompanied by 400 infantry drafts an
200 horses. Ibn Sand believed that, the Sherif intended to move against him, and said
that, if he did so, he would be resisted by foice ; r a- ()p’ ice
On the 17th December the Civil Commissioner was informed by the a
of the proposal that Hussein and Ibn Saud should me ® t e ^.' ts him *
approach Ibn Saud officially until Hussein had expressed his readiness to meet hi ^
lP On the 24th December the Foreign Office received a telegram from Lord Alle y,
in wldch the latter referred to a despatch of the 18th November from the Civ
Commissioner, Baghdad. He considered that his remarks regarding he atuatiOT
Syria and Palestine and the state of Feisal s troops were objectionable.
nfi , n „ Q i ^^'onthe 24th December, 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. enquired whether any con tirmatmn had
(165089) beeu received in the Foreign Office of the report mentioned in the Cavil Coming -
telegram of the 6th December (see above, 162406). 1 hey also transim e( ‘ - t | ie
telegram of the 13th December from the Civil Commissioner m which he ^
receipt of a letter, dated the 26th November, from Ibn Saud. 1q tluh , , |lu3se j n
repudiated the charge that he had been taking taxes at ^aba an I 1 < p- 1 . 8
with a deliberate attempt to create 5 "h, disturLL
it„,„>rnnu>nt bv incorrect statements of this sort. He claimed t
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