File 7251/1920 Pt 2 'Arabia: Nejd-Iraq and Nejd-Kuwait Boundaries; Iraq-Nejd Treaty; Nejd-Kuwait Agreement' [‎172r] (339/360)

after a sbmrp action in which they lost heavily. Attack was
unprovoked eo far as is yet knovm and it was probaoly
insti^ted by above mentioned iheiidi Aiaraood ibn iuwait. As
to number of Akhwtn, reports vary fro® 50G to 2,uG0.
A difficult situation thus arises. jreisal deaands
that aeroplanes be sent to bomb the 4khwan. On the face of
it this is justifiaole but auch a course mi jtit involve
complete rupture of our own, as well as ira^^, relations with
bin iaud and consequently canaiot be taken li^itiy. i have
therefore thought it necessary to comult Lit Majesty’s
Ooveraaent before coaplying;. meanwhile Uiere is daily
aeroplane recoiwaistance to watch Akhwan.
hitherto Treaty correspondence with bin Jaud has
been frimadly and correct and he is treating Br. Mann
exceedingly well. It is quite certain that the friendship
and treaty with us is the only thing which has prevented
him from attacking Hedjas or fro© quarrelling vith eisnl.
if we bomb Akhwan low and if bin ia.ud wishes to free himself
from the obligations to us he will be able to make our action
an excuse for doing so. e probably have no need in that
event to fear consequences as far as settle cart of iraq is
concerned, but he mi Jit v^ry possibly forth>.ith turn his
attention to the bedjas. This aspect of the question has
been explained by me to l ei sal but he considers that the
interests the i edj&s nsust be disregarded and urges very
stron, !y that unless we retaliate by bombing at once he
cannot carry on his government. he fcontands that, if ^e
are the mandatory, it is our bounden duty to defend Iraq
from such aggression, and, if we do,not, i to stand aside
and let him rally his trabes to attack in laid 1 * Akhwan.
Of course Akhwan may possibly have acted against
or without bin Saul^ orders. in that case if former are
well bombed, latter may think it prudent to continue
negotiations with us, and to disown them, but for above
reasons