File [10/4] British relations with Ibn Sa`ud: title of Sultan of Najd; surrender of Hail; payment of British subsidies; Ikhwan attacks on Iraq frontier and Kuwait; institution of Najd passport [‎123r] (245/560)

THE AKHWAN RAIDS.
Text of Correspondence Between lb Sand, Sir
Percy Cox, and King Faisul.
SULTAN OF NEJD’S ASSURANCES.
u I Shall Not Fail to Deal With Anybody Found at Fault, and
Exert Myself to put a Stop to Further Depredations.’’
Using aware that ttieve is a good deal of uncertainty in the public mind
as to the portent of the recent raid by Akhwan on 'Iraq tribes, and the
state of relations of the British and 'Iraq Governments with His High
ness Ibn Sand, Sultan of Nejd, the High Commissioner sees fit, with the
concurrence of His Majesty King Faisal, to publish the following corres
pondence for the information of those whom it may interest.
From 11. E. the High Commissioner to
II. M. King Faisul.
The Re«idency,
Baghdad,
30th March 1922.
Your Majesty,
I feel that it is most important at the
present juncture that Your Majesty and the
‘Iraq Government should be fully informe I in
regard to the communications which have
passed between H. H. Saltan Ibn Sa’nd and
myself on tbe subject of the recent raid of
Faisal Ibn Dawish and kis force of Akhwan on
‘Iraq tribes.
As you are aware for several weeks past
correspondence has been in progress between
myself and Ibn Sa’ud with a view to the fram
ing of a Treaty between ‘Iraq and Nejd by
which the contiguous frontier of the two States
will be defined, and friendly relations placed
on a firm rooting.
These negotiations were proceeding on a
correct and a friendly basis when the recent
unfortunate incident took place. I now attach
for Your Majesty’s information a copy or a
telegiam which I despatched to H. H. Saltan
Iba Sa’ud on the 15th March and his reply
which reached me last evening, as regards my
telegram I trust the terms of it wid commend
itself to y^u and your Government. As regards
Ibn Sa’ud’s reply, I feel confident that Your
Majesty and your Government will appreciate
the friendly tone of it, and be gratified to know
that the excesses of Faisal al Dawish were per
petrated on the latter’s own initiative and
contrary to the wishes of his master, and that
the latter, namely, H. H. Sultan Ibn Sa’od, is
most anxious to p^edorve his friendly relations
with this Government. I have also the pleasure
to inform you that the Nej 1 representatives
deputed to discuss the preliminaries of the
Treaty and the frontier with the representatives
of this Government are now at Bahrein, and
have been directed to come, on to the rendeavous
at Muhammerah.
Meanwhile I have asked and received
authority from London to announce as a
temporary measure, pending conclusions of an
‘Iraq NejJ Treaty, that a line of watering places
'shoald be considered the frontie’- between the
tribes of ‘Iraq and those of Nejd, and that if
Dither side cross that line they will be liable to
be attacked. The precise line is now under
discussion and I shall keep you informed of the
result arrived at.
I am,
Your Majesty’s sincere friend,
- p 7
Dawish’s intrusion into ‘Iraq territory and
aitack on Iraq tribes was undertaken with your
knowledge or approval, and I urge you to inform
me at once that I am justified in my belief and
that you will punish them for their misdeeds
and return the livestock looted from the Ziiyad
and other Iraq tribes and compensate them for
men killed. In any case I fear the incident
shows that Fais-il Dawish and his men are not
under your effective control and it will, I fear,
make a very grave and unfavourable impression
on His Majesty’s Government.
2. Telegram from His Highness the
Sultan of Nejd to His Excellency the
High Commissioner.
I have received your telegram relative
to Faisal Dawish. The matter appears to be as
you say though I had no knowledge previous
to your telegram, and can scarcely credit the
news. Before tney went out I sent word to
them at Dakaij to return and they went back
to near Hafar which is the last I heard of them, i
Matter has affected me even more than you. '
I am displeased and did not expect it. Cannot j
think Akhwan attacked without reason, but !
cannot reply till get particulars. Nevertheless i
I am ex remely sorry. I thank you for not
allowing yourself to have any suspicions of your
friend’s good itnent. It is not possible that
they are out of my control, and I beg you not to
imag rift -hie. Is has arisen from some mis
understanding as will occur with Bedouins. Rest
assured that I shall not fail to deal with anybody .
found at fault, and exert myself to put a stop to !
further depredations.
From II. M. King Faisal to H. E. the
High Commissioner, The Boyal Court,
Baghdad, 1-4-22.
Dear Sir Percy,
I am in receipt or your letter of the 3(hh
March 1922, enclosing correspondence exchanged
with H. H. the Saltan of Nejd, with regard to
the recent raid by Faisal al Dawish, commander
of the forces of H. H. the Sultan, against ‘Iraq
tribes.
I cannot but render Your Excellency great
thanks for the interest you have taken in the
matter, and for your continuous efforts iu this
direcdon. There is no doubt that tbe explicit
terms of your telegram, indicating clearly your
desire to settle the dispute, and to establish peace
a id friendship between ‘Iraq and Nejd on a firm
basis, will be received with satisfaction and
gratification by the Government and people of
‘Iraq. The reply of Ibn Sa’ud is also indicative
of H. H.’s good intension.
I am sure that, after these declarations,
H. H. the Sultan will give evidence of his
genuine desire for the retention of friendly
relations wiih us and will punish the aggressors /
among his followers, and those of them whe
vere responsible [or t his pai^g^icidenr. j. am
THE AKHWAN RAIDS.
Text of Correspondence Between lb Sand, Sir
Percy Cox, and King Faisul.
SULTAN OF NEJD’S ASSURANCES.
“I Shall Not Fail to Deal With Anybody Found at Fault, and
Exert Myself to put a Stop to Further Depredations.’’
Being aware that there is a good deal of uncertainty in the public mind
as to the portent of the recent raid by Akhwan on ‘Iraq tribes, and the
state of relations of the British andi ‘Iraq Governments ivith Ilis High
ness Ibn Saud, Sultan of Nejd, the High Commissioner sees fit, with the
concurrence of His Majesty King Faisal, to publish the following corres
pondence for the information of those ichom it may interest.
From H. E. the High Commissioner to
H. M. King Faisul.
The Re«idency,
Baghdad,
30th March 1922.
Your Majesty,
I feel that it is most important at the
present juncture that Your Majesty and the
‘Iraq Gbvemment should be fully informe 1 in
regard to the coinmumcations which have
passed between H. H. Sultan Ibn Sa ud and
myself on the subject of the recent raid of
Faisal Ibn Diwish and his force of Akhwan on
‘Iraq tribes.
As you are aware for several weeks past
correspondence has been in progress between
myself and Ibn Sa’ud with a view to the fram
ing of a Treaty between ‘Iraq and Nejd by
which the contiguous frontier of the two States
will be defined, and friendly relations placed
on a firm tooting.
These negotiations were proceeding on a
correct and a friendly basis when the recent
unfortunate incident took place. I now attach
for Your Majesty’s information a copy of a
telegiam which I despatched to H. H. Saltan
Ibn Sa’ud on the 15th March and his reply
which reached me last evening. AS regards my
telegram I trust the terms of it wid commend
itself to you and you;- Government. As regards
Ibn Sa’ud’s reply, I feel cmfidetit that Your
Majesty and your Government will appreciate
the friendly tone of it, and be gratified to know
that the excesses of Faisal al Dawish were per
petrated on the latter’s own initiative and
contrary to the wishes of his master, and that
the latter, namely, H. H. Sultan Ibn Sa’ud, is
most anxious to pteserve his friendly relations
with this Government. I have also the pleasure
to inform you that the Nej 1 representatives
deputed to discuss the preliminaries of the
Treaty and the frontier with the representatives
of this Government are now at Bahrein, and
have been directed to common to the rendezvous
at Muhammerah.
Meanwhile I have asked and received
authority from London to announce as a
temporary measure, pending conclusions of an
‘Iraq Nejd Treaty, that a line of watering places
should be considered the frontier between the
tribes of ‘Iraq and those of Nejd, and that if
oither side cross that line they will be liable to
be attacked. The precise line is now under
discussion and I shall keep you informed of the
result arrived at.
I am,
Your Majesty’s sincere friend,
P. Z COX.
1. Telegram from His Excellency the
High Commissioner to His Highness
the Sultan of Nejd.
A little more than a year ago I had occasion
to protest to Your Highness in regard to the
hostile activities of your adherent Faisal D^wish
and the force of Akhwan accompanying him
who were then threatening Z ibeir. Tuey only
retired under threat of bombardment. The
same thing has happened this season. For some
weeks past the south frontier of ‘Iraq has been
continually disturbed by constant threats of
Akhwan raids against ‘Iraq tribes. On 7-.h March
I telegraphed to Your Highness via Bahrein
urging you to control him and to put a slop to
his mischievous activities, your approval of
which could not be believed in view ot the
negotiations which were current between ns. I
have now to inform you that on 11th March a
large force of Akhwan numbering between two
thousand and three thousand ! uader the leader
ship of Faisal Dawish, Dhaydan-al Hithlaiu^
Salman Mandil, Kuallof al Jaid and others
attacked the ‘Iraq tribesmen grazing round the
wells of Abo Ghar and after killing a large
number and capturing quantities of camels and
livestock, advanced on Shaqrah and attacked the
‘Iraq Camel Police who were camped there at
the time. All this appears to have been entirely
without provocation. On hearing the above
news aeroplanes were sent to reconnoitre and to
keep me informed of the movements of the
Akhwan. They held specific orders not to
attack without further reference to me unless
they were gratuitously attacked by the Akhwan.
On 14th instant they located the Akhwan near
the lake of Abulia and were received by them
with heavy rifle fire. They accordingly had no
alternative but to retaliate and punish the Akhwan
which they did. Now, although it is reported
to me that Your Highness had been sending
supplies to Haffar for Ibn Dawish’s force, I
cannot believe, in view of the friendly corres
pondence in progress between us, that ibn
Dawish’s intrusion into ‘Iraq territory and
attack on‘Iraq tribes was undertaken with your
knowledge or approval, and I urge you to inform
me at once that I am justified in my belief and
that you will punish them for their misdeeds
and return the li vestock looted from the Ziiyad
and other ‘Iraq tribes and compensate them for
men killed. In any case I fear the incident
shows that Faisal Dawish and his men are not
under your effective control and it will, I fear,
make a very grave and unfavourable impression
on His Majesty’s Government.
2. Telegram from His Highness the
Sultan of Nejd to His Excellency the
High Commissioner.
I have received your telegram relative
to Faisal Dawish. The matter appears to be as
you say though I had no knowledge previous
to your telegram, and can scarcely credit the
news. Before tney went out I sent word to
them at Dakaij to return and they went back
to near Hafar which is the last I heard of them.
Matter has affected me even more than you.
I am displeased and did not expect it. Cannot
think Akhwan attacked without reason, but
cannot reply tili get particulars. Nevertheless
I am ex remely sorry. I thank you for not
allowing yourself to have any suspicions of your
friend’s good iuient. It is not possible that
they are out of my control, and I beg you not to
imag ne this. It has arisen from some mis
understanding as will occur with Bidouins. Rest
assured that I shall not fail to deal with anybody
found at fault, and exert myself to put a stop to
further depredations.
From H. M. King Faisal to H. E. the
High Commissioner, The Royal Court,
Baghdad, 1-4-22.
Dear Sir Percy,
I am in receipt or your letter of the 30th
March 1922, enclosing correspondence exchanged
with H. H. the Saltan of Nejd, with regard to
the recent raid by Faisal al Dawish, commander
of the forces of H. H. the Sultan, against ‘Iraq
tribes.
I cannot but render Your Excellency great
thanks for the interest you have taken in the
matter, and for your continuous efforts in this
direction. There is no doubt that the explicit
terms of your telegram, indicating clearly your
desire to settle the dispute, and to establish peace
and friendship between ‘Iraq and Nejd on a firm
basis, will be received with satisfaction and
gratification by the Government and people of
‘Iraq. The reply of Ibn Sa’ud is also indicative
of H. H.’s good intention.
I am sure that, after these declarations,
H. H. the Sultan will give evidence of his
genuine desire for the retention of friendly
relations with us and will punish the aggressors
among his followers, and those of them who
were responsible for this painted incident. l am
also confident that he will, meanwhile, undertake
to make the necessary compensation— s indie ited
in your telegram to him—to the tribes who were
attacked unawares in their ordinary habitat
without any reasonable grounds and that he will
recall his representative, Abdul Rahman Ibn
Mu’amir, who continues in the name of the
Sultan to threaten the tribes and extort taxation
from them, and finally that be will have refunded
to those concerned ail s«,me thus obtained from
them by Abdul Rahman under whatever decep
tion they might have been levied.
I hardly need confirm to Your Excellency my
repeated declarations, that my firmest desire is to
have relations between ‘Iraq and Nejd established
on a basts of genuine friendship and complete and i
neutral amity. I am prepared, after cmsultation
with my Gove rnment, to accept the line suggested
by Your Excellency as a temporary frontier to
separate Nejd and ‘Iraq tribes pending a final
fixation of the frontiers of the two States* In this
connection, I would like to invite Your Excel
lency’s attention to the fact that the presence of
Ibn Mu’amir within ‘Iraq territory will be a
cause for the continuance of misunderstanding
and will prevent the tribes from regaining a sense
of peace and tranquillity. I, therefore, have no
doubt that Your Excellency will concur in the
desirability of issuing direct instructions to him
to leave ‘Iraq territory immediately after the
fixation of the line which it is intended to fix as a
temporary frontier between 'Iraq and Nejd tribes.
If we hold up this question of Ibn Ma’amir pend
ing receipt of reply from Ibn Sa’ud—a matter
which will cause no little delay owing to the long
distances—his continued stay among ‘Iraq tribes
will lead to further misunderstanding.
In all events I trust that the arrival at
Bahrein of the Nejd representatives will prove to
be a healthful preliminary step towards the
resumption of friendly intercourse and the
cementing of relations of alliance between the two
neighbouring countries.
Yours Sincerely,
(Sd.) Faisal.