Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎55r] (110/540)

2
L
15
By this time, however, the King of the Yemen had already signed an instrument,
a copy of which the Iraq mission communicated to the Saudi Government on their
way home, and the Saudi Government to His Majesty’s Minister. It was noticed
at once that the King had not adhered to the treaty with reservations, but had
made many changes, and in particular had cut out article 4 (c) altogether, thereby
taking on obligations which he could have escaped by acceptance of the sub-article,
which defines certain acts as not acts of aggression. But the whole instrument
had been so thoroughly altered by the Imam as to constitute a new treaty. The
Saudi Government also came to the conclusion that the treaty was a new
instrument, but they ratified it nevertheless. It was then hailed in the Saudi
press as a gesture of pan-Arab significance.
50. The ratification as between the Yemen and Saudi Arabia was effected by
a Saudi envoy, Muhammad Shaikho, who went to Sana for the purpose. He also
concluded on behalf of Saudi Arabia two other agreements :—
(1) An agreement, dated the 2nd November, 1937, for the settlement of
disputes. This is the official title. The instrument is really a frontier
agreement, and provides for the passage of local residents across the
border, as well as for the settlement of disputes between subjects of
the two States living in the frontier regions.
(2) An annex to the Treaty of .Taif defining the frontier between Saudi
Arabia and the Yemen.
51. A Saudi-Yemen agreement which did not come to the notice of the
Legation at Jedda at the time may also be mentioned here, viz., an arbitration
covenant which was signed on the 6th Safar, 1353 (the 20th May, 1934).
A den Protectorate.
52. There is even less to record this year than in 1936. The only item
calling for mention is Mr. Philby’s defence of his action in entering the Aden
Protectorate from Saudi territory without notice (paragraph 6 of 1936). He
returned, as was expected, entirely unrepentant. He said that Ibn Saud w T as in
no way responsible for his expedition, to which that of Bertram Thomas, he
considered, afforded an exact parallel. He was unable to see that he had treated
Ibn Saud badly in obtaining an escort for topographical work and exploration in
Saudi Arabia and using it, unknown to his patron, to enter territory outside
Saudi Arabia. He did not deny that he knew Shabwa to be far soiiih of the
extreme demands of the Saudi Government, but his attitude was that the claim
of the Aden authorities to Shabwa was a trespass on territory which was
abandoned by His Majesty’s Government in favour of Arab independence in the
McMahon correspondence. He had intended nevertheless to dismiss the
Hadhramaut in one uncontroversial chapter in his forthcoming book, but, having
been “ attacked ” by Aden, he intended to “ fight back.”
53. The Sheikh of Shabwa came on the pilgrimage, and while in Mecca
stayed with Mr. Philby, who wished, it appears, to return in some measure the
hospitality and help afforded him in Shabwa. Mr. Philby represents the sheikh
as replying to advances from the King of the Yemen: “First there came
Faisal-al-Saud, and now Philby (i.e., Ibn Saud) has come, and we don’t want
anyone else.” This may prove that Mr. Philby went log-rolling for Ibn Saud in
the Aden Protectorate, but it does not prove that Ibn Saud wished him to do so.
There is no suggestion from any quarter that Ibn Saud tries to insinuate his
influence into those parts. Nor is it likely that he would encourage the Sheikh
of Shabwa, or any other ruler within British-protected territory/to oppose the
policy of His Majesty’s Government.
54. The question of the frontier between Saudi Arabia and the Aden
Protectorate is dealt with elsewhere (paragraph 94).
Muscat and Oman.
55. The record is blank this year, except for the question of the frontier,
which is dealt with elsewhere. It is evident to His Majesty’s Legation that there