Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎182v] (365/540)

14
44. Colonel Biscoe’s discussions with the King and Sheikh Yussuf Yasin
covered a wide range of subjects as follows:—
(а) The Saudi embargo on trade between Nejd and Koweit.
(б) The proposed creation of emergency landing grounds for aircraft on
the Hasa coast.
(c) The establishment of telegraphic and postal communication between Hasi
and the outer world. ^
(d) The status of Ibn Saud’s representatives at Bahrein and Koweit.
(e) Nejdi intrusions in Koweit territory.
(/) The possibility of a simple extradition treaty between Bahrein and Nejd
and arrangements for the exchange of judicial summonses.
(g) Access for the Hindu traders known as Bunnias to Hasa.
(h) Various matters relating to passports, visas, &c., and manifests for
vessels trading between Hasa and Bahrein.
45. Except as regards (a), which will be dealt with below, and (b), which
will be dealt with in the section on aviation, the ensuing position in regard to
these matters may be dismissed briefly as follows :—
(c) The question of telegraphic communication has not been pursued on
either side. The Legation in Jedda communicated to the Saudi Government on
the 23rd July, the proposals of the Indian Government regarding mails. The
Saudi Government agreed to them in September, and proposed that the service
between Hasa and foreign countries via Bahrein should be instituted as from
the 1st November. The Government of India found it impossible to inaugurate
it so soon, but promised to do so as early as possible. Nothing more had been
heard up to the end of December.
(d) Colonel Biscoe explained to Sheikh Yussuf Yasin the difficulties in the
way of according recognition to Ibn Saud’s agents as persons of consular status.
Sheikh Yussuf did not press the matter, and the Saudi Government have not
since reverted to it.
(e) The Legation in Jedda had already on the 11th January complained of
various instances in August and October 1931 of improper action by Ibn Saud’s
officials and patrols in Koweit territory. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs
returned a somewhat impertinent reply on the 23rd January and, whether by
accident or design, misrepresented the purport of Sir Andrew Ryan’s repre
sentations to the King. Colonel Biscoe was able to clear the matter up at Hufuf,
and Sir Andrew Ryan explained it further to Euad Bey Hamza in a personal
letter. After this the diplomatic correspondence was allowed to drop. It is
satisfactory to note that a sufficient apology was tendered locally for a further
Nejdi intrusion in March 1932.
(/) The new 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. , Colonel Fowle, informed Sir Andrew Ryan
in a letter of the 6th August that a draft extradition treaty prepared by the
Bahrein Government had been returned to them for alteration by Sir Hugh Biscoe
and would shortly be submitted to His Majesty’s Government. The Legation in
Jedda has no later information. The question of judicial summonses does not
seem to have been pursued.
(g) Colonel Biscoe obtained a promise that Bunnias would be allowed to
visit Qatif for trading purposes only and for periods not exceeding two months,
subject to an understanding that either side might suggest any modification
of this arrangement. In June Sir Andrew Ryan tried, at the instance of
Sir H. Biscoe, to get the period extended to three months and to obtain the same
concession in regard to visits to Jubail. Ibn Saud agreed to the extension of the
time allowed for visits to Qatif, but refused any facilities for visits to Jubail.
(h) The Legation has little information regarding these matters, and they
are not in any case of sufficient general interest to be dealt with further in this
report.
Koweit Blockade.
46. One of the main objects of Colonel Biscoe was to induce Ibn Saud to
relax the embargo on trade between Koweit and Nejd, which has come to be
known as the “ Koweit Blockade.” In the earlier discussions at Hufuf, the Kino-
broached three alternative suggestions regarding possible customs arrangements!
Two of these he admitted in the subsequent discussions to be impracticable. The