Coll 6/21(2) 'Saudi Arabia: Relations with H.M.G.: Saudi Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah. Prolongation of Treaty of Jedda.' [‎13r] (25/761)

in Palestine or in Syria; and the greedy man who sought merely to enrich,
himself. ,
Let the Arabs of each Arab country look to the improvement of their own
country first. There is so much they could do still undone. Let them develop
their own agriculture and industry, make themselves prosperous and strong and
happy. Then let them use their natural ties of blood and kinship to bind them
selves more closely one with another. It can be done—though it will take a long
>-t«^ie—by treaties, by friendly understanding, by recognition of mutual interests,
^ok at America : at first America was a collection of weak and separate States.
But each State strove to improve itself. It developed its own resources and
became strong and prosperous, then put out its hand to its brother States and
gradually united with them, until to-day America has become the greatest State
on earth. So may the Arabs achieve union, if they will be honest and patient, for
it will take a long time.
‘ ‘ The world is not, as some Arabs seem to think, an aeroplane or a motor car i
to be steered in the particular direction they want by the turn of the wheel. {
Worldly chances are incalculable; destiny will not accommodate itself to our j
desires. Who knows what the face of the world will be like after this war ? What j
new systems will be brought to life, what mighty States become no more than dust ’
blown down the wind? We only know that it will be changed and a return to
that state we were in before impossible. How vain were the hopes of those who
held their conferences after the Great War seeking to return to the political and
financial systems of before that war.
“ But of the Arabs in that new world we can now state two things with
certainty : First, the two basic principles of national interest and integrity that I
have mentioned will still hold good, and it is on those that the Arabs must base
the policy with which they face the new conditions. If they neglect those they
will achieve nothing. Second, the Arabs, united or not, cannot stand alone.
Where are their aeroplanes, their submarines, their destroyers? They must rely
on the friendship, help and protection of some Great Power.
“ There are Governments besides the Government. Some of the others would
gladly oust the Government from its place in the East. These enemies of ours, the
Axis—and especially the Germans—are strong, no doubt. Strong enough to have
made many Arabs look to them as the champions of Arab freedom and indepen
dence. But I tell you that, if Germany came to the Arabs offering them the moon
in one hand and the sun in the other, to accept their gifts would bring nothing but
ruin and disaster upon the Arabs
“ The Arabs have known the British Government for a long time now. The
association has undergone many trials. Both sides have had much to complain of.
But after it all, one truth emerges ever clearer : our interests are inevitably bound
up together. No one but the Government can help and protect the Arabs, and if
that help fail us we are lost. The Government is a tree well rooted and we are
the leaves on its branches. If that tree is felled, shall we not wither and perish
even before its roots ?
“ In conclusion, I will mention three things that have written the lesson
clearly. Three things in this war; two of them happened, one was averted.
“ First, the German occupation of Europe. We have seen what they have
done in Holland and Belgium and those places. Can the Arabs imagine that the
Germans love them better than they love the people of Belgium ?
“ Second, the revolt in Iraq. The leaders of Iraq, ignoring both their loyalty
to their word and their own interest, plunged their country into the worst possible
dilemma. Had the Germans succeeded in remaining in Iraq but four months
Iraq would have been utterly ruined. The British would have treated the Iraqis
as traitors and enemies, and the Germans would have had but one object—to
attack the British, and would have slaughtered every Iraqi who hindered them.
“ Third, the threatened invasion of Egypt. The Arabs saw the key to the
Arab world within the grasp of the Axis, and the battle of A1 Alamein showed
them that no one stood between them and that disaster but the British
Government.
“ There is the truth : history has written it as clear as the sun. Our trust is
in God and after that in the Government. This war at all times has proved it,
and at no time more than when the Government seemed weakest and nearest to
defeat. Now you have great Allies, America and Russia, with millions and with
men. No one can now doubt that the Allies have overwhelming power and the
issue is not now in doubt. But one thing alone brought this mighty alliance into
being : one thing alone stirred America to action and convinced her that the cause
was not lost. That was when you in your island, with all your Allies broken, stood