File 110/1917 'Arabia: Printed Correspondence.' [‎21v] (47/616)

summon a meeting of both parties but to send agent to Ibn Saud to induce
him to s(op advance pending arbitration: see first part of paragraph No 3
* Serial No is. ' of your telegram,• 970. Clearly it' is
necessary that agent should ? be in a
position to give definite guarantee to Ibn Saud that if he withdraws his forces
as he should certainly do from Tarabah, at any rate British Government will
arbitrate between him and King Hussain at as early a date as may be found
possible.
As agent to Ibn Saud we have selected Phiiby who is now in England*
. _ , see Baghdad telegrams. 6714+ nmi
15). 6762 ,{ June 14th and June 17th. I u
X Serial No i 6 view of dilficulties of eommunicatin®
with Baghdad, he will be placed
under your orders during the period of the mission. He will proceed by air
to Cairo with the least possible delay and place' himself at your disposal.
Doubtless you will make most expeditious arrangements possible for his
onward journey and wil 1 consult us at each staga.
You should take immediate steps to inform (gr. omitted) of Philbv’s
approaching visit. Also you should use every endeavour to secure Kin»
Hussain's early assent to arrangements proposed and to obtain from him safe
conduct for Phiiby to proceed to Taif for the purpose of opening communica
tions with Ibn Saud.
Confidential. In these circumstances it seems desirable that Lawrence
should not tor the present proceed to Jeddah. It might be useful to arrange
a meeting at Cairo between him and Phiiby. Above is being repeated by
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. to Baghdad and Government of India, finds.
This is with reference to your telegram No. 6762 § of the 17th June and
§ Serial No. i6. connected correspondence. >
19
Telegram P., dated the 19th (received 20th) June 1919.
From—His Majesty’s Secretary of State for India, London,
To-His Excellency the Viceroy (Foreign and Political Department), S.mla.
(Addressed Baghdad.)
nf n Tbe Wh °' e que f tion has been under tlie careful consideratioi
t y S( ?- 0Ve ( rn ! ne t n -,- Speakin -SCQerally itis our policy to avoii
. ln te “ tral Arabian politics- and to reduce our commitment
tbere as elsewhere to a minimum. Wo should be opposed altogether ti
ChfetoV e3ul,1 ' sb ' n S balance of power amongst Central 3 Arabia,
Chiets oi ot setting up oue Chief against another as suggested in Cain
II Serial Na 4. telegrara|| No. 937, June 8 th. But o
on their merits md f,,,. r n • cour3e particular cases must be judga
on tueir merits and for following reasons we think it impracticable b
disinterest ourselves entirely in Bin Rashid’s affair., fit r lm P ractlea “ le ?
extends up to western limit of Tr-, .n , ? ltalrs (1) Influence of Rashu
Places is LotrolM^m! To’r t0 ^
proposition ( 1 ) that it is desirable to . as J )]19 ^ e < accept in principl*
T? pW^outo at? re^ou^
Cairo hut through Baghdad. Tub^dy shoulHJ fixerJu^ace^scSetn!
serial No. iss, Fart ix. maximum mentioned in your telegramli
altogether excessive. At meeting nf v* f l 0 u 2 V> seems to us
mensem was mentioned. Before'we settle^eY ^ ommittee sum of £500 P el
.a.,ion. i„™„ nntii complotion ot
** Serial No. 3. A airgraphing separately. This if
No. 0414, June 8 tli, and connected corLpondlnc ?" 6 10 y ° Ur ‘ tele S ram *'