Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎28v] (57/540)

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112. A few days before the end of the year information was received from
the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Bushire that the Sheikh of Koweit had approved the
draft trade agreement and the drafts of the two subsidiary agreements, all ot
which had been shown to him informally by the political agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. . The drafts ot
the subsidiary agreements, which were prepared in London, have still to be shown ^
to the Saudi authorities.
Frontiers: Relations with Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Rulers in general.
113. From Ibn Saud’s point of view, the situation in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. is
becoming complicated. He is at last getting a port of his own on the Gulf, but
the firm most clearly fitted to act as landing agents for his cargo and that of
C.A.S.O.C. is British. Is he to allow this firm to establish itself in his
territory at the moment when, as it seems to him, His Majesty s Government aie
embarking on a “forward policy” in Arabia—a policy which he probably
attributes to the existence of oil along the coast? But it is not only the British
who are interested in the Gulf. The Germans are returning, and the Hansa
Line seem to have offered to provide landing facilities at Ras 1 anura. Then
there is the Iraqi Government, of whose influence Ibn Saud is always suspicious.
In this case there is perhaps some ground for suspicion, since it is not disputed
that Iraq would like a port in Koweit territory, and that many Iraqis consider
that Koweit ought to be incorporated in Iraq. It is partly to Iraq intrigue that
Ibn Saud attributes the establishment of a council in Koweit on what he
considers quite the wrong lines. It is inevitable that such modernising elements
as there may be in the smaller States of the Gulf should look to the nearest Arab
neighbour where political and economic development is to be found rather than
to Saudi Arabia, whose Government is considered backward and rather absurd.
Ibn Saud seems to be conscious that this exposes him to some risk, as was showed
by the remarks he made about the Sheikhs of Bahrein and Koweit.
(C)— With Powers outside Arabia.
His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.
General.
114. The year began badly with the controversy over the eastern frontier
of Saudi Arabia. The Palestine question, though far more important, seems to
grieve Ibn Saud rather than to annoy him, but the frontier question touches his
pride and disappoints what he regards as his legitimate hopes. Nevertheless,
personal relations remained excellent, reinforced as they were by the Athlone
visit. When the Amir Saud needed dental treatment and his brother Muhammad
medical attention, it was to London that they went as a matter of course, and
their enjoyment of the visit, doctors and dentists notwithstanding, was
unmistakable. When Sir R. Bullard went to Riyadh in November Ibn Saud not
only received him with his usual hospitable kindness, but showed his respect for
His Majesty’s Government by going out several miles one day to visit him m the
palace which had been placed at his disposal.
115. Ibn Saud asked for the advice of His Majesty’s Government on many
occasions during the year, in particular in connexion with the proposals of the
Iraqi Government for financial and other agreements. He gave them early infor
mation about the forthcoming withdrawal of the Soviet officials, and consulted
them as to the method by which he should define his attitude towards the
Anglo-Italian Agreement; and he told them about the arrival of arms supplied
by Italy. It is natural to suppose that this confidence does not go all the way;
thus no indication of the quantity of arms supplied by Italy was ever given, and
Fuad Bey did not volunteer information about the forthcoming appointment of
a German Minister. Still, the signs of confidence that were given were welcome,
and the advice given in return was probably useful to Ibn Saud, who will, it is
hoped, have realised that it was disinterested. In connexion with the suggestion
of the Saudi Government that the Sanitary Convention of 1926 should be revised
in a sense pleasing to them, an appeal was made for the help of His Majesty’s
Government, which is rather embarrassing, since, even if His Majesty’s Govern
ment could support the demand whole-heartedly, which is not possible, it is
improbable that it can be completely satisfied.