Coll 34/3 'Slavery and Slave Trade: Red Sea and Arabia: Attitude of Ibn Saud' [‎232r] (474/886)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
EASTERN (Arabia).
f
CONFIDENTIAL.
E 5859/900/91]
i r*) t) 4' f ^[Obtober 18, 1926.]
I c o ^ y —i
< n v# /i * Section 1.
i i L J. h
No. 1.
Acting Consul Mayers to Sir Austen Chamberlain.—{Received October 18.)
(No. 111. Confidential.)
Jeddah, September 28, 1926.
I HAVE the honour to report that when Ibn Sand was in Jeddah recently on
the occasion of the return of the Emir Saud from Egypt, I took the opportunity of
brinoing to the notice of His Majesty the communication contained in paragraph 2
of your despatch No. 91 of the 12th August last to Mr. Jordan.
2. Ibn Saud did not appear satisfied with the very general terms of my com
munication, and asked for further details. I therefore told him that in Oman, for
example, and even on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , slaves of African origin
were continually being encountered, whose stories all pointed to Nejdis as the agents
for their sale into those parts. ,
3. Ibn Saud did not deny this, but said that the British Government already
knew his attitude towards the slave traffic. His policy was to see that slaves already
in bondage were treated properly, and meanwhile he was prepared to nelp
discountenance fresh importations. But slavery was a habit engrained m the customs
of the people. He felt sure that any attempt on his part to put an end to slavery
would involve him in a struggle with his subjects which would i ne y ta “> fp T f that he
of authority. Even if he appealed for a religious ruling on the “f ^^6 Mt that he
would raise an acrimonious debate which would m all probability end agamst
It was impossible for him at present to forbid slavery. , . , . • humane
4. I replied that His Majesty’s Government were grateful to him for h s huma
attitude. Slavery, an age-long institution, would not be abolished n a day. Never
theless, much had been done to mitigate it m the last century “d ‘here was no doubt
that a gradual change in the minds of slave-owners was be ™g J s f ave traffic
.“." ri's.! - - ■» » - *
Saud reminded me tb,« he could not eontrf J Jb, ...e rfjyjj
desert, and restated his attitude towards the s avery q beyond the letter of
but in a matter such as this could not be sure of etnct obedmnce ^ond ^ j
his commands. I replied that I understood ‘ be . dl ®"J s e 0 n the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
asked if it would not be possible for him t0 d' 11 . . slaves by Nejd subjects still
and express to them his displeasure that the exp . , j this. I thanked
continued. With a show of warmth he promised faithfully to do M matter
him, and said that I had no doubt that a dedara ion of ^s opinio
would give his recommendations all the weigh y d DI . ese nt at the interview
6. A member of the staff of the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. who was^present^ Acting
discussed the matter later in the same day ww ^ g , g prom i se to write to the
Foreign Minister. Sheikh Youssef confirme p y the Koran in the case
•sheikhs concerned. He argued that slareiy ^ P sanct j 0Iie( j slavery, while they
of prisoners taken in the holy war. T e j f ec [ an J considerately treated,
laid down that slaves w T ere to be proper y c ^ their protection could confiscate
He added that British authorities m r eg ir ^ s amount to much, but they
slaves offered for sale. Sheikh Youssef s
probably reflect his conversations on this topic wi h resolution on slavery
7. Sheikh Youssef Yassin made fin ally a yef genc^to ^ ^ ^ degpatch 89
carried at the Islamic Conference and -e} „ fo r o-otten this resolution, which is
I of the 20th Jiity. Ibn Saud has apparen y slaves into the country, although
K J beyond a doubt inimical to the importation • . hange of such slaves at presen
it might sanction the retention and comme nr i S oners taken in old religious wars,
in Ibn Sand’s dominions who are descendants oi pnson than the above have
Moslem slaves who can prove • Y T s i am ic usage, to their freedom,
presumably a right, even from the point o \ ! j have, &c.
NORMAN MAYERS.
[1423 s—1]