Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎11r] (22/540)

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(cf. report for 1942, second paragraph), and he would no doubt have declared
war against the Axis if His Majesty’s Government had so wished, but they did
not. He sent warm and undoubtedly sincere congratulations to His Majesty’s
Government on the capture of Tunis and the capitulation of Italy, events which
vindicated the faith he has always shown in an ultimate Allied victory, and
.which increased his already great reputation as a statesman in the Arab world.
/fc/ *Iis speech to notable pilgrims assembled at Mecca at the end of the year was
full of praise for Britain and it will no doubt have beneficial effects far beyond
the borders of Saudi Arabia. He behaved very well when, at the beginning of
the year, a British army contingent entered Saudi Arabia from Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
without permission or previous warning, in order to carry out certain observations
in connexion with the survey of Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan . He waited patiently for an
explanation and accepted it without demur. The activities of the survey party
were called off by General Headquarters. He also permitted a locust mission
composed chiefly of large army units to operate throughout his domains.
10. Ibn Saud’s relations with other Powers were, on the whole, fairly
good. He had various squabbles with Iraq which resulted in long wails to His
Majesty’s Government regarding the way in which he was being treated by the
Iraqi Government. He was particularly incensed by the institution in the
summer of a zone along the Saudi-Iraqi frontier within which severe restrictions
were imposed upon the movements of tribesmen and their livestock. He con
sidered this an infringement of his treaty rights, which, inter alia, stipulate
that Saudi tribesmen shall be free to move across and in the area in question.
The other causes of friction were minor matters in themselves, but the continued
failure of the Iraqi Government to pay any attention to any of Ibn Saud s
protests produced an angry outburst in which the King even mentioned the
possibility of resorting to force if he did not obtain satisfaction.
11. Relations with Syria were close, Ibn Saud playing the part of mentor
to the Syrian leaders, who are just beginners in the hard school of politics and
world affairs. Egypt and Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan , with whom in the past Ibn Saud’s
relations have not been happy, gave him little cause for complaint in 1943. In
particular there was a pleasing absence of recriminations with Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
about frontier violations, &c. The Amir Abdulla, however, by his ill-considered
manifesto concerning Arab federation in April caused Ibn Saud great offence,
though he said very little about it. Relations with the Yemen were peaceful, but
Ibn Saud is watching the situation in that country with great care. There were
some signs that the Imam is beginning to realise the value to the Arab world
of Ibn Saud’s prestige and statesmanship. Relations with the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
States were normal and amicable. The ratification of the Koweit Agreements
were exchanged at Jedda on the 1st May.
12. Ibn Saud’s relations with the United States took a big step forward
during the year. The King has all along been reluctant to travel either fast
or far along the road leading to closer contact with the United States. The 1
United States Government is still rather an unknown quantity for him, and
he is anxious concerning the possible repercussions of extensive American
activities in the Near East. He expressed his fears in at least one message to
His Majesty’s Government in which he said bluntly that he preferred Britain
to guide the destinies of the Arab States rather than America. He considers
Britain, with her long record of co-operation with and friendship for the Arabs,
can manage the Near East quite well by herself and that there is no need for
America to butt in. There is some evidence to show that he fears His Majesty’s
Government may decide to disinterest themselves in the Near East and allow
their place to be taken by America.
13. Saudi Arabia has been declared eligible for Lend-Lease. The
announcement of this was made to Ibn Saud in Riyadh by Mr. Kirk in April,
and the King immediately asked His Majesty’s Government what it all meant
and whether he should agree. He was reassured, and by the end of the year,
after a certain quantity of badly needed Lend-Lease material had arrived, his
anxiety at this new, and to him' strange, development seemed to have worn off.
United States interest in Saudi Arabia, which is, of course, based on the need
for oil, was also shown by the promotion of their representative in Jedda to
the rank of Minister Resident, and by the unprecedented flow of American
visitors, most of them official. Mr. Kirk, who was then the United States
Minister to this country, visited Riyadh in April. He was followed by General
Hurley and by Colonel Hoskins. These three questioned the King exhaustively
on many subjects, but the main object of their visit was to discover the King’s
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