File 1166/1925 'Arabia: Nejd; negotiations with Ibn Saud regarding Iraq-Nejd question and Trans-Jordan boundary; Sir G Clayton's mission; Bahra agreement, 2nd November, 1925' [‎163r] (332/769)

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convey it to the ‘Iraq Government is through the medium of His
Majesty’s High Commissioner in ‘Iraq. Moreover, the agreement
has not yet been signed, and cannot therefore be said to be com
pleted. When my Mission has finished its work and all agreements
are concluded and signed I shall without delay transmit a copy of
the agreement which concerns ‘Iraq to His Majesty’s High Com
missioner at Baghdad for communication to your Government.
With regard to the question of the mutual restitution of loot
taken in the course of raids between ‘Iraq and Nejd prior to the
conclusion of this present agreement, I have received your views
with regard to the procedure that should be followed with a view to
coming to a settlement, and I note the arrangement to which you
have secured the agreement of the representatives of the Nejd
Government. I concur generally with the terms of this arrangement
and with the procedure which it is agreed should be followed. I
therefore propose to make it the subject of an interchange of
letters between the Sultan of Nejd and myself, as I consider this
method of procedure is preferable to its inclusion in the actual
agreement itself, although it is based on the principles which that
agreement lays down in regard to the future.
In conclusion, I have to thank you very warmly for the full
measure of co-operation and assistance which you have afforded
since vou joined me at Port Said on the 30th September, and to
express mv appreciation of the value of your presence as the repre
sentative of the ‘Iraq Government attached to my Mission.
Yours sincerely
Gilbert Clayton
ANNEXURE 15
1. Letter from the Sultan of Nejd relating to the Protection of
Nejdi interests in Damascus.
2. Reply from Sir Gilbert Clayton.
‘Abdu’l- Aziz ibn ‘Abdu’r-Rahman al-Faisal Al Sa'ud to Sir Gilbert
Clayton, K.B.E., etc., His Britannic Majesty’s Commissioner and
Plenipotentiary.
4th Rabi‘ Than! 1344
(22nd October, 1925).
Ref. No. 213.
Translation.
Respects.
With reference to the question of our representative at Damascus
and to the right of representation given to the British C onsul there,
I have the honour to inform you that that delegation ol powers was
temporary and that, since the work entailed does not extend to other
than commercial matters and the issue of passports to oui subjects,
I am of opinion that the representation should he entrusted to one
of our own subjects.
With regard to the French Government and their objections, I
presume that there will be no objection on the part of the British
Government to our entering into direct correspondence with the
French Government on the subject. Respects.
(Sealed) ‘Abdu’l-* Aziz ibn ‘Abdu’r-Rahman ibn Sa‘ud