Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎161v] (323/540)

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78. Fuad Bey’s version of the facts was probably accurate in essentials,
although his language implied that matters were more advanced than they seem,
in fact, to have been. It is still not known what, if any, assistance the French
Government are prepared to give, or on what terms. It may be noted as a side
light that the Koweiti mentioned in paragraph 91 below was in touch last summer
with the French as well as with the German and Italian Legations in Bagdad.
79. Nothing was heard during the year of further negotiations for the
commercial agreement in regard to trade between Syria and Saudi Arabia,. The
political affairs of Syria are doubtless followed closely by Ibn Saud and his more
intelligent advisers. Reference has been made above to the rumour of a Saudi
candidature for the Syrian throne. It seems one of the least probable of the
various solutions that have been canvassed, although, in his conversation with
Sir Andrew Ryan on the 28th December, Fuad Bey based his denial, not so much
on the improbability of such a candidature, as on the consideration that the
French were committed to a policy in Syria which turned on its having a
republican Constitution and any modification of which would raise complicated
questions.
(3) Italy.
80. Fuad Bey Hamza informed Sir Andrew Ryan on the the 9th January
that the incident resulting from the proceedings of an Italian sloop off Asir in
December 1932 (see paragraph 75 of the last report) had been closed after an
exchange of friendly explanations. He represented the Italian Government as
having admitted that there had been a breach of international practice and said
that they had given assurances of their entirely friendly dispositions towards
Ibn Saud, of whom they asked only that he should not quarrel with “ their
friend,” i.e., the Imam Yahya. Fuad Bey did not state that the Italians had
expressly recognised the King’s rights over Asir, although his language implied
that they had not contested them. The probability is that, on this and subsequent
occasions, they have left themselves a loophole for asserting more definitely in
case of need the theory, which they have sustained with increasing vigour in
their correspondence with His Majesty’s Government, that the King has acquired
no valid title to Asir.
81. The King of Italy seems to have been the only foreign Sovereign to send
a personal message of congratulation to the Amir Saud on his designation as Heir
Apparent. Even this gracious gesture did not prevent the growth of the quarrel
between Ibn Saud and the Imam from inflaming, not unjustly, Saudi suspicions
of Italian policy. Ibn Saud mistrusts the friendship of the Italian Government
for the Imam. He resents the facilities afforded to his enemies for using Eritrea
as a base of activities and for shipping supplies to the opposite coast. He is very
ready to think that the Italian authorities are not merely tolerant of, but parties
to, such activities. The Saudi Government were gratified, however, by a
communication made to them in November by the Italian representative in Jedda.
M. Tonci conveyed definite assurances of the friendliness of the Italian
Government, who intended to preserve good relations with both Ibn Saud and the
Imam and deplored mischievous rumours and press reports of Italian lack of
sympathy.
82. The Italian representation in Jedda was weak during the year as the
Minister appointed last year had no heart in his job and, having gone on leave on
the 2nd June, engineered a transfer. The Charge d’Affaires whom he left
behind is an ardent Fascist, but a man of queer manners and impetuous
disposition. More interest appears to be taken in Arab affairs by the Italian
Charge d’Affaires at Bagdad, who has an itch to get into Nejd. He was learning
Arabic and growing a beard in March in anticipation of an expedition to Hail
and Riyadh, and seemed not only to have curious relations with King Feisal, but
to be flirting with the idea of a restoration of the Beni Rashid. If he had any
backing from his Government in intrigues to reinstate that dynasty or to promote
a Hashamite revival in the Hejaz, they would indeed be playing with fire.
Anyhow, it is very unlikely that Signor Porta would be a welcome visitant in
Nejd. In this connexion it is worth mentioning that the Italian Legation in
Bagdad was one of the missions there visited by the Koweiti mentioned
in paragraph 91 below.