File 2182/1913 Pt 5 'Arabia Nejd: Policy Bin Saud' [‎363r] (301/308)

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US) 340
CONFIDENTIAL.
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No. 35-C., dated Basrah, the 3rd January 1916.
From—The Hon^blb Lieutenant-Colonel Sir P. Z. Cox, K.C.SX, K.C.I.E.,
Political Kesident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To a he Foreign Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department,
In continuation of my telegram No, 3500, dated the 27th December 1915,
I have the honour to submit, for the consideration of Government, the text of
the Treaty with Bin Saud, as signed by himself and me in original; together
with the following papers:—
(i) Translation of Treaty as signed.
(w) j> side by side with British draft, for facility of com
parison.
(m) Comment on the wording of the Articles, as signed.
(iv) Translation of letter from myself to Bin Saud pointing out a
clerical omission in the Arabic saying that I was correcting the
original before submission to Government, and asking him to
correct his copy.
2. The last enclosure explains itself. I much regret that this clerical
error should have occurred and that it should have escaped notice alike by the
scribe, and by Bin Saud and myself. I should explain that I had not detected
it when I despatched my telegram above quoted, I can only plead in pallia
tion the difficult conditions of light and expedition under which the documents
were faired, read and compared. There can be no doubt that Bin Sand will
endorse the correction, and assuming that to be the case, I trust the text of
Treaty will appear to Government sufficiently satisfactory to justify its
acceptance and ratification.
Had Bin Saud been able to remain another day and thus give me a second
seance, it might have been possible to manoeuvre him closer to the text of the
British draft. On the other hand, it is also possible that had he not been
anxious to conclude the business at one sitting, he might have been less ready
than he was to meet me half way in regard to points of difference.
3. I am dealing in a separate communication with Bin Saud’s position
generally and with what passed'at my meeting with him at Darein near Katif
on 26th December.
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Enclo. No. 1.
English translation of Treaty concluded between the British Government and
Bin Saudi dated 26th December 1915.
In the Name of God the Merciful-4he-Compassionate.
Preamble.
The High British Government on its own part, and Abdul Aziz bin Ahdur
Bahman bin Paisal Al-Saud, Euler of Najd, El Hassa, f Qatif and Jubail, and
the towns and ports belonging to them, on behalf of himself, his heirs and
successors, and tribesmen, being desirous of confirming and strengthening the
friendly relations which have for a long time existed between the two parties,
and with a view to consolidating their respective interests—the British Govern
ment have named and appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, K.C.S.I.,
K C I E British Eesident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , as their Plenipotentiary, to
conclude a treaty for this purpose with Abdul Aziz bin Abdur Eahman bin
Eaisal Al-Saud.
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—vsd on V3 r,C^ \ i 0
1KDIA FOREIGN SECRETARY’S
Letter. Ko. 6 M
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