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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.' [172r] (343/761)
The record is made up of 1 file (379 folios). It was created in 14 Jan 1935-12 Apr 1947. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
7
which would in any case make its eventual fulfilment uncertain. Sir R. Bullard
added that His Majesty’s Government were obliged, as members of the League
of Nations, to register all treaties with the League. Mr. Rendel then went on to
say, as he had said the previous day, that he could hardly imagine any occasion
on which a threat to Saudi Arabia would not be a threat to His Majesty’s
Government, and added that this community of interests was a stronger bond
than many a treaty. We had given too many promises in the past, under pressure
of war in particular, and could not give one in this case. Sir Reader Bullard
reminded the King once more of the terms of the Rome Agreement of 1927. His
Majesty’s Government had recorded in writing that they regarded it as a vital
imperial interest that no European Power should establish itself on the Arabian
shore of the Red Sea.” The King seemed to derive comfort from this
conversation.
Fourth Interview, March 22.
21. The King said that in this the last conversation before Mr. Rendel’s
departure he wished to speak about Palestine. The Arabs were now really
alarmed by the Zionist policy. They feared that a Jewish Government would
be established in Palestine and would include
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
in its scope, and they
were even beginning to fear that there might be designs on Medina itself, the
burial-place of the Prophet Mahomet. Some of these fears might be exaggerated,
and due to irresponsible talk by individual Jews, but there was also genuine
ground for apprehension, and he himself was very anxious about the question.
Great Britain was powerful and could crush the Arab opposition, but he feared
that there might be dangerous repercussions in other Moslem countries in which
His Majesty’s Government had special interests, e.g., Egypt, Iraq and India.
There were many enemies watching for an opportunity to injure Great Britain.
The chief of these was, of course, Italy. The attempt that Italy was making
to win recognition as the friend of Moslems in general and of the Arabs in
particular was well known. The Italians had used the pilgrimage for propa
ganda purposes, and had done their best to induce him to speak in praise of their
pro-Moslem policy. He had resisted this attempt, and he had no belief
whatever in Italian professions, for he knew what had happened in Tripoli and
in Abyssinia, but there was a real danger from the Italians, nevertheless, if the
troubles in Palestine should flare up again. Nor were the Turks inactive. They
had many agents in Palestine, who never failed to rub it into the Arabs that the
result of their revolt against the Turks was subordination to the Jews. The
Zionist policy, as it was being carried out at present, was contrary to British
interests, and that was one reason why he was against it. As a Moslem and an
Arab he naturally sympathised with the Arabs of Palestine. He had suppressed
these personal feelings hitherto out of friendship for His Majesty’s Government,
and he could always suppress his feelings if policy required it. But the Zionist
policy was not even in the interests of Great Britain. Moreover, His Majesty’s
Government must realise that he stood alone, and that he had to think of his
position in a Moslem world where he was the butt of much criticism, and where
many of his co-religionists would not even admit that he was a Moslem. He felt
that he had come to the end of what he could do in the matter of Palestine.
22. His Majesty was assured that his views would be communicated to His
Majesty’s Government without delay.
23. Ibn Baud said that he had one last question. Suppose that there was
trouble in the Yemen and the Italians asked him about it, as they might very well
do; what should he say? Should he reply to this effect:—
He did not propose to interfere in the internal affairs of the Yemen, and
the Rome understanding of 1927, the relevant part of which had been
communicated to him by the Italians as well as by the British, seemed to
require them both to adopt a similar attitude of non-intervention.
Mr. Rendel said that this reply seemed to meet the circumstances exactly.
About this item
- Content
This file, like the previous volume (IOR/L/PS/12/2087), concerns relations between the British Government and the Government of Saudi Arabia.
The file largely consists of copies of Foreign Office correspondence, mainly between His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan, Sir Reader William Bullard, Hugh Stonehewer Bird, and Stanley R Jordan successively) and officials of the Foreign Office. Other prominent correspondents include the following: the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires to Jedda (Albert Spencer Calvert, succeeded by Alan Charles Trott); His Majesty's Ambassador in Baghdad (Sir Kinahan Cornwallis); Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd]; Amir Faisal [Fayṣal bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd], Minister of Foreign Affairs for Saudi Arabia; officials of the Colonial Office and the War Office.
The correspondence documents the progression of negotiations for a general settlement between the two governments, which would result in the initial prolongation of the validity of the Treaty of Jedda (the treaty signed between Britain and Ibn Saud in 1927, which initially expired in September 1934) for a period of seven years from 1936 (and for another seven years from 1943).
In addition to discussing matters relating to the proposed general settlement (e.g. the eastern and south-eastern boundaries of Saudi Arabia, slavery regulations, arms traffic, and Saudi debts), the correspondence also documents various visits and meetings, including the following:
- The visit of Amir Saud [Āl Sa‘ūd, Sa‘ūd bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz, heir apparent of Ibn Saud] to Britain (17 June-1 July 1935), accompanied by Fuad Bey Hamza, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs for Saudi Arabia.
- Further meetings at the Foreign Office between Fuad Bey Hamza, Hafiz Wahba (Saudi Minister in London), Sir Andrew Ryan, George William Rendel (Head of the Foreign Office's Eastern Department), and other Foreign Office officials, in July 1935, following on from meetings in September 1934.
- Sir Andrew Ryan's meetings with Ibn Saud in Riyadh in December 1935 and in Jedda in February 1936.
- Four interviews held between Ibn Saud, Sir Reader William Bullard and George William Rendel, in Jedda, during March 1937.
Also discussed are matters relating to the Second World War, including:
- An exchange of letters between Ibn Saud and the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, in early 1939, which principally relate to Ibn Saud's concerns regarding his country's security in the event of the beginning of general hostilities.
- German radio broadcasts in Jedda during the first few weeks of the Second World War and their possible effect on the Jedda population.
- The possibility of Iraq and Saudi Arabia formally joining the Allies in the Second World War.
In addition to correspondence the file includes the following: a copy of a programme for Amir Saud's visit to Britain (ff 339-348); exchanges of notes (in English and Arabic) between the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the British Legation at Jedda, confirming the prolongation of the Treaty of Jedda, dated 1936 and 1943 respectively (ff 189-192 and ff 4-5); a sketch map showing air routes over Saudi Arabia and Iraq (f 31v).
Although the material in this file falls inside the date range of 1935-1943, the final document in the file does include an additional date stamp which is marked '12 April 1947'.
The file includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (379 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 380; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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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.' [172r] (343/761), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2088, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048209024.0x000092> [accessed 18 April 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2088
- Title
- 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.'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:4r, 5r, 6r:31r, 32r:75v, 77r:77v, 79r:152v, 158r:173v, 175r:180v, 186r:187v, 188v:189r, 190v:191r, 192r:199v, 201r:204v, 206r:266v, 269r:275v, 276v:278v, 280r:286v, 288r:293r, 295r:314r, 316r:380v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence