Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎210v] (421/540)

an agreement between Hejaz-Nejd and Koweit on some such lines as those of the
Bahra Agreement between Nejd and Iraq, the question of the old Koweiti claims
referred to above, the effect of the Hejaz-Nejd law on nationality as regards
Koweitis and Bahreinis, and, subsidiarily, a question which had been raised by
the Acting High Commissioner at Bagdad as to the future status of Koweit, with
special reference to the possibility of its eventual incorporation in Iraq.
48. In regard to the last of these questions, which concerns only indirectly
the position vis-a-vis Ibn Saud, the conference relied on the view taken by the
Committee of Imperial Defence in 1929 that no change in the then status of
Koweit should be contemplated, either as regards identifying it with Iraq or
declaring a formal British Protectorate until circumstances should appear to
make this clearly desirable. As regards the other questions, the main conclusions
were as follows: The way should be paved by the proposed visit of courtesy to
be paid by Colonel Biscoe, accompanied by Colonel Dickson, to Ibn Saud, at
which, it was hoped, outstanding questions might be discussed informally.
Further procedure would depend on the result of this first meeting, but, generally
speaking, the aim was that any more formal subsequent negotiations should be
conducted^ if possible, by 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. with Ibn Saud personally and
that the Sheikh of Koweit should be present, rather than that they should be
conducted by the Legation in Jedda, or with a Hejazi delegation or by the
Sheikh of Koweit himself. Importance was attached to the removal by Ibn Saud
of his embargo on trade between Koweit and Nejd. It was not thought necessary
for His Majesty’s Government to shrink from the questions which, it was
understood, the King himself might raise regarding dues collected in Bahrein on
goods destined for Nejd, his vaguely indicated desiderata in connexion with the
position of hm subjects in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , or the position of his agents in
Bahrein and Koweit. It seemed unlikely, however, that satisfaction could be
given him on these points, and it was contemplated as a possibility that, if he
proved recalcitrant over the embargo, a threat to raise the transit dues at
Bahrein might be used delicately as a means of pressure. It was agreed that the
question of an agreement for the settlement of future raiding claims (which had
been thought of as something roughly analogous to the Bahra Agreement with
Iraq) need not be pursued, having regard to the facilities afforded by tribal
custom for the adjustment of such matters and the fact that this custom had on
recent occasions been applied by the authorities on both sides (as in the case
referred to briefly in paragraph 44 above). It was further agreed to continue to
hold over the sheikh’s claim in respect of past incidents and transactions, lest
its presentation at a time when Ibn Saud could not possibly meet it should
appear to him merely as an unfriendly gesture. It was thought that it might, if
presented prematurely, even frighten him off the proposed meeting with Colonel
Biscoe. The case for dealing with the matter in conjunction with the other
questions was all the stronger as the sheikh had intimated readiness to waive the
claim altogether if Ibn Saud would remove the embargo on trade between Koweit
and Nejd. The one remaining question, that of the nationality of Bahreinis and
Koweitis in Hejaz-Nejd, was also reserved.
49. Although the conference of the 12th August afforded an useful
opportunity of crystallising the position in regard to the various questions
discussed, it subordinated practically all of them, as far as relations with
Hejaz-Nejd were concerned, to the results of the meeting between Colonel Biscoe
j I | )n , Saud - further progress was made with them, therefore, up to the
end of the year, when the meeting was still being awaited in the circumstances
already described.
50. There were no signs during the year of any substantial progress in
connexion with the schemes mooted in 1930 for the creation of a port in Neid
territory at Ras Tanura, or the organisation of a pilgrim and trade route from
the Hasa Coast to the Hejaz, projects which, if realised, would have an important
effect on Bahrein. On the 28th February Ibn Saud admitted to Sir A. Ryan at a
party at Mr. Philby’s house, that it was intended to bore for water at Ras Tanura
but it is not known what, if anything, was done up to the end of the year In
April the Persian Charge d’Affaires in Jedda spoke of the idea of an overland
route from Hasa to the Hejaz side as one which had been discussed, but could not