File 488/1920 Pt 1 ‘Arabia:- General question of subsidies to Arab Rulers.’ [‎14r] (23/163)

hwic fifcsn d jisfri
people. Whatever his precise relations to the Akhwan movement
nay be, he i s ali ve to its dangers; and he has applied himself -
with a remarkable measure of success, if Major Difton is correctly
infomed - to turning it into a channel in which he can more
effectively control it. I allude to his policy of settling the
Beduin described on p.3 of Major Dijon’s memorandum attached.
It will be seen that Bin Baud has carried it so far that it has
now become a matter of pride with a Bedu to call himself a
H town-dweller”• If this is true, it is a remarkable achievement,
of the best augury for the future. i‘or here we may have the
makings oi a great settled central Arabian state which, from its
geographical position, may deteimine the future of the peninsula.
I think it is worth our while to stake * some thing on that
possibility. But obviously Bin Saud has a long way to go before
it is realised, and in the meantime he must have money to balance
cA>
his budget: see p.6 of Major Bi^on 1 s memorandum. ne discussed
his economic position with sir p. Cox, and no doubt we shall be
able to help him in opening his ports on the Hasa Coast, and making
his trade independent of Koweit and Bahrein (which at present get
the benefit of the customs duties), and in other ways. But for
some years cash will be required, and it is for this reason that
Sir P. Cox has recommended that his subsidy be raised to £100,000
per annum subject to reconsideration ”when he has been placed in
a position to enjoy the customs revenue throu^i his own ports.”
For the reason given above i.e. if thereby the building up of a
settled Central Arabian state will be furthered, I believe it
will be money very well invested.