Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎343r] (686/802)

assistance, they could not avoid taking such measures as would leave no room for
any infringement of their regulations or violation of their honour.
37. In transmitting this reply to His Majesty’s Government, His Majesty's
Minister observed that its language reflected the churlish spirit in which the
Hejazi Government habitually dealt with questions of this kind. It might
almost be construed as a menace, but in view of His Majesty’s Government's
desire to avoid fruitless correspondence over the matter, Sir A. Ryan did not
propose to pursue it in writing, but would draw Fuad Bey’s attention to the
unfriendly tone of the reply on his return from Riadh. He did so in January.
Fuad Hamza explained, somewhat lamely and obscurely, what he apparently
tried to convey was that the note meant that, even if the Hejaz-Nejd Government
had to condone a violation of territory, it did not impair their rights. In view,
however, of the friendly nature of contemporary correspondence about the missing
Iraqi pilot, Squadron-Leader Warburton, Sir Andrew did not press the matter
further.
Iraq.
38. There is nothing of interest to report, except the death at Riadh in
October or early November of the Mutair chieftain Feisal-ad-Dawish, once a
prominent figure on the Iraq frontier and leader of the 1929 rebellion against
Ibn Saud. He is said to have died of an internal disorder in the nature of
dysentery.
39. The project of a pilgrim route for cars from Iraq to the Hejaz has
been noted in paragraph 22.
Koweit and Bahrein.
40. There is nothing definite to report, beyond a certain increased activity
on the Koweit border on the part of Ibn Muhairib, Ibn Saud’s frontier official.
A sir and the Yemen.
41. The meeting of Saudi and Yemeni delegates referred to in paragraph 40
of the last report was held early in November at An Nadhir, near Mount Arwa,
the place in dispute. Neither side would give way, however, and the matter was
referred to their respective Governments. Telegraphic messages were thereupon
exchanged between Ibn Saud and the Imam Yahya, as a result of which the latter
asked the former to arbitrate. “ Wherefore His Majesty,” as the Hejazi
proclamation puts it, “ wishing the dispute to be settled by peaceful means and
bloodshed to be avoided, desirous also of seeing co-operation prevail amongst the
Arabs, could not but telegraph to His Highness the Imam giving judgment against
himself, namely, the surrender of Mount Arwa to the Yemen .... Friendly
relations have thus been established between His Majesty the King and His
Highness the Imam on firm foundations, please God Almighty.” Ibn Saud must
have felt that circumstances were indeed against him, to induce him to yield
ground to the Yemen.
42. The local pact nevertheless bore fruit. On the 15th December a treaty
of friendship, neighbourliness and extradition was signed at Abu Arish between
the Hejaz-Nejd and the Yemen It came as a surprise and is not much
believed in.
III. —Relations with States outside Arabia.
British Empire.
43. Relations were normal. They centred round 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 frontier^
the Hejaz air force and Ibn Saud’s debts. The first-named has been dealt with
in paragraphs 32 to 37. Air matters are reported in paragraphs 55 to 60 below.
It is convenient to mention the debts here.
44. At the end of his conversation with His Majesty’s Charge d’Afiaires on
the 13th November (see paragraph 4 above), the Hejazi Under-Secretary for
Foreign Affairs preferred a request that His Majesty’s Government would allow
the 1929 debt of £30,000, owing to the Government of India, to be included in
the virtual moratorium and placed on a basis of equality with the whole of
Hejazi-Nejd indebtedness. Mr. Hope Gill replied that he would communicate the
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