Coll 17/1 'Iraq-Nejd Relations: Bon Voisinage Agreement and Extradition; Treaty of Friendship, 1936' [‎111r] (221/857)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Arabia).
April 15, 1936.
CONFIDENTIAL.
i
Section 1.
.VS [E 1974/52/25]
Sii' A. Clark Kerr to Mr. Eden.—{Received April 15.)
(No. 174.)
Sir,
Bagdad, April 8, 1936.
WITH reference to my telegram No. "86 of the 4th April, I have the honour
to transmit to you herewith a translation of the Treaty of Alliance between Iraq
and Saudi Arabia which was signed at Bagdad on the 2nd April, together with
a translation of the notes concerning article 1 which were exchanged at the time
of the 11th March regarding article 5 (2), have been adopted. The text of the
protocol on arbitration mentioned in article 2 has not yet been agreed upon.
2. After the signature of the treaty, congratulatory telegrams were
exchanged between King Ghazi and King Abdul Aziz and Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and the
Emir Feisal. The text was published simultaneously in Bagdad and Mecca on
the 6th April and, according to the newspapers, was well received in both places.
3. The treaty was at once submitted to the Iraqi Parliament, and is likely
to be passed through all its stages during the next few days. Ratifications are
to be exchanged as soon as possible, either in Mecca or Bagdad. After ratifica
tion, the Iraqi Government will register the treaty with the League of Nations.
4. During the treaty negotiations discussions took place between Sheikh
Yusuf Yasin and the Iraqi Government concerning—
(1) The demarcation of the frontier between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
(2) The division of the neutral zone.
(3) Extradition.
(4) Residence.
(5) The Dahamshah tribe.
(6) The reciprocal exemption of the subjects of each country from visas when
5. According to information given to Mr. Bateman by Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. on the
6th April, the idea of demarcating the frontier on the ground has been dropped.
It has been suggested to Sheikh Yusuf Yasin that, as the questions that have
arisen concern a number of watering places through which the Uqair line passes,
some attempt should be made to decide which tribes are entitled to use individual
wells in any given area. The centres in question are generally situated at the
points where salients occur on the frontier. They are by no means well defined,
and comprise a number of wells covering an area of 4 or 5 square miles. Access
to these wells is of great importance to the Bedouin tribes, and the Iraqi Govern
ment have suggested that they should be partitioned on the basis of established
tribal rights. They are willing that King Abdul Aziz should, in the first place,
decide to what tribe or tribes individual wells belong. The Iraqi Government
are fairly confident that most of the wells will be found to belong to Iraqi tribes.
6. As regards point (2), Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. has indicated in a letter to Sheikh
Yusuf Yasin that it is impossible to divide up the neutral zone, as many of the
wells south of a line drawn across the centre belong traditionally to Iraqi tribes
(principally the Dhafir). He suggested that, in order to maintain order in the
zone, a mixed Iraqi-Saudi Administration should be set up to keep the peace.
7. As regards extradition, the Saudi Government had asked that better
arrangements should be made for the working of the Extradition Aoreement of
April 1931. Since this agreement came into force, the Iraqi Government have
not addressed a single demand for extradition to the Saudi Government. The
Saudi Government have made six. Of the nine persons involved in the Saudi
demands, five have not been traced, one has been handed over, the surrender of
„ of signature. You will observe that the recommendations made in your telegram
No. 43 of the 24th February regarding article 4 {c), and in your telegram No. 54
entering the country of the other.
[681 p—1]
B