Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎154v] (309/540)

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Colonel Cox, the British Resident at Amman, who, with Sir Andrew Ryan, was
to exert the mediating influence of His Majesty’s Government, arrived in Jedda,
accompanied by Taufiq Bey Abul-Huda, Chief Secretary to the Government 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 , representing ihe Amir. Captain Glubb, the officer commanding the
Desert Patrol of the Arab Legion, was attached to the mission as expert. Ihe
Saudi Government received the party with great honour, and they were
accommodated, together with Mrs. Cox, as official guests at the Kandara Villa
outside the town.
22. When the mission arrived, 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 draft texts had taken
definite shape. The Saudi delegates, Fuad Bey Hamza and Sheikh Yusuf Yasin,
agreed to accept the drafts as a basis of discussion after Fuad Bey had produced
a long statement of his own on matters which might in the view of his Government
be considered. These included the question of the frontier and, notably, the
attribution of the Aqaba-Maan area, which the British delegates firmly refused
to regard as being within the scope of the conference. The negotiations, thus
begun on the 24th April, continued intensively, except for one short lull, until the
4th May. The draft extradition treaty gave rise to so much controversy that
the attempt to make one was abandoned by mutual consent. A more unexpected
difficulty arose over an apparently innocuous article in the draft Treaty of
Friendship and “ Bon-Voisinage ” providing that His Majesty’s Government
should conduct the diplomatic and consular relations between the parties. This
was shelved by an agreement to eliminate the article altogether and to embody the
necessary understanding in an exchange of diplomatic notes between His
Majesty’s Government and the Saudi Government, providing inter alia that the
parties might appoint consular representatives of their own at Jedda and Amman.
23. It looked towards the end as though the settlement might be completed
in Jedda. On the 3rd May the Saudi delegates presented every appearance of
desiring this, but on the 4th May they drew back and it was agreed to resume
the negotiations at Jerusalem later. 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 mission left on the
5th May, having every reason to be pleased with their reception, except that
Ibn Saud confined his personal attention to receiving them in audience during a
short visit to Jedda on the 3rd May, and much reason to be pleased with the
progress made. It was so great that Fuad Bey Hamza and Sir Andrew Ryan
had little difficulty in settling most of the outstanding points in conversations
after the departure of the mission, so as to ensure the success of the second stage
of the conference. When they left for Jerusalem in July, little remained except
to give final form to the texts and to draw up an exchange of letters on the
determination of tribal nationality for working purposes. It was intended that
those letters should record the maximum of agreement possible, and should express
reservations regarding tribes and tribesmen on whose attribution it was
impossible to agree; but there was still difficulty in regard to certain important
tribes like the Beni Atiya, and very great difficulty owing to a most unreasonable
Saudi claim to a minor 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 tribe, the Sirhan.
24. The conference was resumed in Jerusalem on the 24th July, Fuad Bey
being the only Saudi representative, indeed, the whole of the delegation. The
principal persons concerned were otherwise the same, except that Colonel Cox,
absent on leave, was replaced by Mr. A. L. Kirkbride. The work proceeded
rapidly. Fuad Bey gave way sufficiently over the Sirhan to make possible an
agreement with reservations. The treaty and the connected documents were
signed on the 27th July at a meeting presided over by the High Commissioner,
who had formally opened the proceedings at Jerusalem. Next day the Amir
Abdullah entertained General Wauchope and the various delegates at a luncheon
at Amman, the atmosphere of which was extremely friendly and at the end of
which his Highness and Fuad Bey exchanged happily-worded speeches.
25. The following is a list of the documents constituting the settlement,
including the two letters at (8) and (9) which were actually exchanged later, in
order to ensure Ibn Saud’s assent, but which it was agreed to treat as having been
exchanged on the date of the treaty :—
Treaty Texts.
(1) Treaty of Friendship and “ Bon-Voisinage.”
(2) Schedule of rules to be observed by the special officers on the frontier
provided for in the treatv.
(3) Protocol on Arbitration.