File 522/1922 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Bahrein: Internal' [‎33r] (70/616)

that a person of original Hejazi nationality, who had acquired
British nationality by naturalization after that date could not
claim the benefit of it in the Hejaz subsequently having
regard to the provisions of Article 6. I pointed out however
that cases mi^it arise in which a person who had not been a
British subject on September 29th 1926 might legitimately
claim it on supplying any necessary proof at a later date
e.g. a person not born before that date; a woman married to a
British subject after that date; a person not of Hejazi
original naturalized British after that date; or a person who
had become British through annexation of territory to the
British Empire. The Sheihh recognized that in such cases
proof of British nationality should be admissible, if the
person had acquired a legitimate title to it. I particularly
emphasized the fact that we could not admit loss of Briti
nationality by prolonged sojourn in this country unless
the person had clearly renounced it by a voluntary act. I
observed that in the case of Osman Hakim we had been told that
the deceased had become a Hejazi subject under the Law on
nationality but we had not been told by what process he had
acquired his alleged Hejazi nationality. I said enough
under this head to affirm the principle that the man could not
be held even after fifty years in the Hejaz to have becane
a Hejazi by mere lapse of time or loss of papers but I propose
to consider the particular case separately in due course.
10. I consider that Mr.Bird 1 s memorandum has had the effect
of securing amendments sufficient to satisfy us on the points
of material importance and that we cannot hope for mors, as we
can neither draft the amended articles in accordance with
English standards of precision nor induce the Hejazi Government
to negotiate officially regarding the text of a law which they
claim the right to promulgate as a matter of sovereign
prerogative. The new law may be issued in the near future. If
therefore I have gone wrong at any point, I should be grateful
for telegraphic instructions, j haye et( ^
(Sgd! ) ANDREW RYAN.