File 3665/1924 Pt 1 ‘Arabia:- Situation 1924; Wahabi attack on Hedjaz. Capture of Taif & defeat of Hedjaz Army. Abdication of King Hussein.’ [‎67v] (143/852)

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doubt has since been cast upon it. There is, however, proof of an improvement in
the conduct of the Wahabis in the release of the seven men (including two Indians)
who were held to ransom at Taif. They are all safe and at liberty in Mecca.
5. The assurances received from the Wahabis, and the news that no excesses
have been committed in Mecca, have convinced the population of Jeddah and the
Mecca refugees that the best policy is to surrender to the Wahabis at once, ihis
policy, however, does not commend itself to the Amir Ali. He was anxious to
negotiate, but always, it mav be supposed, in the hope that negotiation would result
in his retention of the kingship. He cannot be certain of attaining this object if he
surrenders, for, though the complaints in Ibn Sand's proclamation are all directed
against Hussein, it does not follow that Ibn Saud or the Moslem world would accept
Ali even as temporal ruler of the Holy Places. Moreover, Ali is being encouraged
to resist by the band of Irakis and Syrians who are at the head of the Hedjaz army.
They may perhaps be influenced by the fact that their occupation would be gone if
Ibn Saud became master of the country, but, in any case, they wish to make one last
struggle against the Wahabi invasion/ They have been encouraged in this policy by
the arrival of volunteers from Akaba. Some 400 have arrived, and the Amir Ali says
that there are 1,500 altogether. Of these 400, over 100 are Bedouin; Tahsin Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
one of the Amir Abdullah’s men, who came with them, describes them as Druses.
The rest are believed to be from 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 . They are well dressed and well fed,
and they appear to be pretty well trained.
The proposal of the Amir Ali and his military supporters is to act on the
defensive for the present, and meanwhile to try to starve the Wahabis out by
prohibiting the despatch of supplies from Jeddah to Mecca, and to endeavour to
raise another tribal force. Supplies are already very low in Mecca, because there has
been little transport available for food-stuffs during the last month. To keep Mecca
supplied from Jeddah requires from 300 to 400 camels a day, but, owing to the
camel-drivers’ fear of conscription, not more than 100 camel-loads of food-stuffs
a day have been sent to Mecca, on an average, since the fall of Taif. If the Amir AH’s
force could be relied upon to repulse any attack on Jeddah, the economic blockade
of Mecca might be effective. The population of Jeddah, however, are absolutely
opposed to this blockade, which they consider will only starve their friends and
relatives in Mecca and eventually bring the Wahabis down to Jeddah in a revengeful
mood. The Amir Ali and his foreign troops would then, they assume, escape from
the country, leaving Jeddah at the Wahabis’ mercy. They are in active corre
spondence with the Wahabis, whom they are assuring of their friendship and their
determination not to resist, but it is doubtful whether they can exercise any control
over the Amir Ali and his military supporters.
6. Considerable excitement was caused by the announcement by the Amir Ali
that Mr. Philby was coming to Jeddah. It was naturally assumed by most of the
people here that, as Mr. Philby went to Riyadh, and later to Amman, as a British
official, he could only be coming here on an important mission from the British
Government, and it may be doubted whether even his own assurances that he comes
as a private person will dissipate this suspicion.
R. W. BULLARD.
Appendix A to Enclosure.
Translation of a Letter from the ex-King Hussein to the Acting Prime Minister
of the Hedjaz.
I have noted your Excellency’s telephonic communication of the 5th October,
1924, addressed to the Kaimakam of the Royal Palace embodying the information
that the representatives of the people of Jeddah are desirous of my retirement from
the Administration. I have always, from the time of the Arab revolt, expressed my
complete willingness to abdicate whenever the people should desire it or it should
appear necessary, and all know this to be the case. My wishes and aims are limited
to what is necessary for the public welfare, happiness and complete independence.
The actual leadership is of small importance to me provided these ends be attained.
Now they have appointed my son Ali, on condition that the affairs and influence
of the Hedjaz Government be restricted to its own territory and that a constitutional
form of government be adopted, notwithstanding that the Arab revolt was based,
firstly, on the principle of the complete independence of all Arab countries whose