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frontier of Saudi Arabia: “Cases settled in accordance with the recognised
Shara law cannot be considered or brought np a second time.” The 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
authorities have frequently found that judgments and decisions which were final
in 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 had been upset by Saudi officials when the parties later found
themselves in Saudi territory. The key to the acceptance of a more reasonable
procedure in the case of the Yemen is perhaps to be found in the words
“ recognised Shara law.”
87. When speaking in the first Arabic broadcast from London in January,
the Amir Saif-ai-Islam Husain referred to his father as Amir A1 Mu’minin
(Commander of the Believers). This seemed to give a slight shock to Fuad Bey
and Sheikh Yusuf Yasin, who were listening with His Majesty’s Minister.
Sir R. Bullard spoke to Fuad Bey about this, referring to the fact that the Italian
Government had given the Imam Yahya this title when they renewed their treaty
with the Yemen in 1937, and to a report that at the time of the conclusion of the
treaty which brought the Saudi-Yemeni war to an end, the King of the Yemen
had undertaken not to style himself Amir A1 Mu’minin. Fuad Bey, who affected
indifference which it is suspected he did not feel on the subject, said that all that
happened between Ibn Sand and the King of the Yemen was that to avoid a
controversial point each of the two parties was described in the treaty as
“ imam,” which in Saudi Arabia implies nothing more than the right to take the
lead in the prayers.
88. Ibn Saud has not repeated this year his prophecies of an eventual revolt
in the Yemen, but when talking to Flis Majesty’s Minister in March he referred
to the Imam as a ridiculous old gentleman who was always fussing about
something. There was Philby’s journey, for instance. And now he affected to
fear British expansion towards Najran, and wanted to know what Ibn Saud
intended to do about it. On this occasion Ibn Saud described the Yemenis as
thoroughly factious, savage and untrustworthy, and related various tales in
support of his accusations.
89. In connexion with the Imam’s attempt to induce Ibn Saud to join with
him in an appeal to His Majesty’s Government and Italy about Palestine
(paragraph 42)' Ibn Saud stated that the Imam frequently consulted him about
all sorts of things. The Imam did, in fact, telegraph to Ibn Saud asking what
he thought about the news that the Yemen was to be invited to send a representa
tive to the London discussions about Palestine. He does not seem to have
consulted Ibn Saud before occupying Shabwa, but, having got into difficulties, he
appears to have accepted Ibn Sand’s offer of mediation with some eagerness.
90. The Shabwa question is dealt with in the section on the Aden
Protectorate.
Aden Protectorate.
91. In a lecture which is published in the Journal of the Royal Geographical
Society for July and August 1938, Mr. Philby claims that, in the time of Faisal,
grandfather of the present Ibn Saud, Wahabi territory extended right down to
the head of the Hadhramaut Valley, and states that at al ’Abr there can still
be seen traces of a fort garrisoned by Faisal’s troops to command the wells and
keep the Sai’ar tribe in order. Ibn Saud, with his views on his ancestral claims,
is not likely to differ from Mr. Philby on this point in theory, but he is too wise
to allow Mr. Philby to push him into conflict with His Majesty’s Government, and
his most extreme claims in the south are still well to the north of al ’Abr.
92. In an interview in March Ibn Saud told His Majesty’s Minister that
he had been approached by various people from the Hadhramaut, and that he had
told them that if they were not under the British they would be under some other
foreign Power, and that, therefore, they might think themselves fortunate. He
had also, it appeared, lectured them on their faults: their unending internal
quarrels and the brigandage on the roads. But, he said to Sir R. Bullard, they
could be managed with a little care. Mr. Philby, he admitted, did not agree with
his policy in regard to the Hadhramaut. “ He says I am a Conservative. And
I am a Conservative.” This was confirmed not long afterwards when Mr. Philby
said to Sir R, Bullard : “ Ibn Saud won’t take any interest in Shabwa. I wish
he would. He has made me a present of Shabwa.”