Coll 6/67(1) 'Boundaries of South-Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎270v] (545/794)

26
against the Turks. It may perhaps be well, in the interests both of illustrating
the terms which he was prepared to offer in return for British protection and of
placing on record the various statements made by him during this period as to his
maximum ambitions, his attitude towards the area to the east of the Nejd-Hasa
border and the States of the Arab littoral, and his view of his position vis-d-vis
the Turks, to record in greater detail than would otherwise be justifiable the
sequence of events and the more important correspondence which passed.
128. In January 1901 Ibn Saud took Ibn Rashid by surprise and conquered
Riyadh. He appears to have made overtures to 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. late in 1903
with a view to ascertaining whether he could look for British protection in the
event of his conquering Plasa. The Government of India thereupon took up the
question of sending a Europeon officer to Riyadh for the purpose of collecting
intelligence. They were instructed by H.M. Government that no steps should
be taken to enter into cioser relations with Nejd or to send an Agent there without
prior sanction, and in the light of the Resident’s views, which were also hostile,
they did not proceed with the proposal.
Ibn Saud appeals for British Protection, 1904.
129. In May 1904, on the Turks taking active steps to support Ibn Rashid, a
Vic tel protest against the Turkish invasion was received from Ibn Saud, who solicited the
20.5.04. protection of Great Britain for his country and himself. No answer seems to have
been given to these overtures, which were made through 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. .
P. 2188a/04.
Bre. to Gr.of I.
368,29.10.04
Policy of H.M. Government.
130. In September 1904 Ibn Rashid and the Turkish troops accompanying him
were completely routed by Ibn Saud. The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Koweit, asked by the
Sheikh what advice he should give Ibn Saud, who had enquired whether or not to
write to the Turks on the matter, replied that Ibn Saud must consult his own
interests and act as he thought best, and that in the absence of instructions from
H.M. Government neither the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. nor the Sheikh could give him any
advice.
P. 3499/04. 131. On SOth December 1904 the Secretary of State for India telegraphed to
the Viceroy that “ H.M. Government desire that it should be clearly understood
that their interest and influence are to be confined strictly to the coast line of
Eastern Arabia, and that nothing should be said or done to connect them even
indirectly with the warfare now in progress in the interior.”
Const, to
F.O., tel. of
12.2.05 and
17.2.05.
P.G. Res.
Diary,
15.2.05.
Const, to
F.O., No.
157, 8 3,05
Saudi Agreement with the Turks, 1905.
132. In February 1905 a meeting took place at Kowmit between the Sheikh,
the Turkish Wali of Basra and Ibn Saud’s father. The latter is stated to have
made a humble submission to the Sultan in his own name and that of his son,
Abdul Aziz, professing loyalty and devotion to his sovereign and his readiness to
obey his commands, and stating that he was prepared to do all he could to assist
the Turkish expedition to Qasim. He protested that Ibn Rashid was his enemy
and was inciting the Turkish Government against him. After preliminary
discussions the Turkish representative produced an order from Constantinople,
addressed to Ibn Saud, appointing him ruler of Nejd on behalf of the Turkish
Government and concluding with the following words: “ The Government will put
soldiers in El Kasim, and there will be official relations between you (i.e. Ibn Saud)
and them, and all of you will be in the service of the Sultan. As for Ibn Rashid,
he shall have nothing to do with affairs in Nejd.” In the following month, how
ever, the Turks were still apparently supporting Ibn Rashid against Ibn Saud.
Abdur Rahman takes Oath of Allegiance to Turkey, 1905.
Basra to 133. In May 1905 it was reported that Riyadh, Washem, Sedayr and their
26 11 19Vo5 dependencies had been formed into a caza of which the centre was to be Riyadh,
’ ' ' and that Ibn Saud’s father had been made Kaimakan of the new caza on solemnly
taking an oath of allegiance to the Sultan.