Coll 6/67(1) 'Boundaries of South-Eastern Arabia and Qatar.' [‎313v] (631/794)

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freedom of action of the sloops, but is not attended by any serious disadvantages
Last year the Saudi Government spoke of enacting general regulations on naval
visits, but they have not so far taken any definite action m this sense.
(12) Treatment of Foreign Representatives.
The position described in my memorandum of the 23rd February, 1932,
remains unaltered in essentials, but there has been some improvement m matters
of detail. The Saudi Ministry for Foreign Affairs has been somewhat
strengthened, and, though its remoteness from Jedda still causes inconvenience,
opportunities for oral discussion are afforded more frequently and somewhat
more regularlv. There had been breaches in the practice of confining European
foreign representatives to Jedda, the most important being my recent visit to
Taif°by invitation, and the King’s expression of hope that he would be able to
receive me in Riadh also. There has been less inclination to head the Legation
off representations on behalf of British Moslems. On the other hand, the Saudi
Government are again playing with the idea of making distinctions between
diplomatic and consular officers. I gathered this from a personal conversation
with Fuad Bey some weeks ago, when he was inclined to insist that the distinction
must be made, though he inferred that non-diplomatic officers would not
necessarily be deprived of certain privileges, e.g., customs immunity. I urged
him to let well alone, and his illness deprived me of any opportunity of exploring
the matter further. We must be prepared, sooner or later, for attempts to curtail
the very extensive privileges at present enjoyed by all members of the Legation
staff, attempts which it may be difficult to resist, but which, in the conditions
of Jedda, would have extremely inconvenient consequences.
I add one general heading in substitution for (8), viz. :—
(13) Attitude of the Saudi Government towards Moslem British Subjects and
Protected Persons.
This problem has grown in importance since 1932, owing to the increasing
indications of a drive on the part of the Saudi Government to reduce certain
foreign elements in their country, especially such as tend to over-populate the
towns, and, in particular, Mecca, with nondescripts. Broadly speaking, it may
be said that their policy is less open to criticism than the methods employed in
their spasmodic attempts to give effect to it. The growth of xenophobia, however,
directs attention to the lack of any droit d’ etablissement whatsoever. I have
dealt with the whole subject at length in a recent despatch to the Foreign Office.
6. If any general settlement of outstanding questions with the Saudi
Government was attempted, it would be necessary to ensure the completeness of
the above list, but it certainly omits nothing of first-class importance bearing
on their relations with His Majesty’s Government. So far as British interests
are concerned, the most important at present are those under heads (2), (3)
and (7); and, in a less degree, (6), as regards dispensaries, (12) as regards
diplomatic and consular privileges, and (13). Ibn Saud, on his side, attaches
supreme importance to (2) (d), and considerable importance to (2) (b) and (c),
to (7) as regards manumission, and to (10).
(B) Position of Ibn Saud.
7. In my memorandum of the 23rd February, 1932, I said that “ Ibn Saud
is almost certainly on the down grade.” This estimate has been falsified by
his good luck on various occasions since then, and still more by the good
management which has enabled him to take advantage of his luck. Were his
financial position more assured, he would now be in a very strong position, thanks
to his repression of the revolts in the Northern Hejaz and Asir in 1932, his
success in avoiding serious trouble with elements which might be tempted to
turn against him in Nejd, and by his conduct of his quarrel with the
Imam Yahya, in the last stages of which he renounced any idea of conquering
the Yemen, but established a legal title to the whole of Asir and Nejran, and
sterilised, probably for a long time to come, if not for ever, the influence of the
Idrisis.