File 57/1928 Pt 10 'Nejd-Transjordanian Frontier: Situation. 1928-29' [‎44v] (99/1792)

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them from raiding ? Did it mean that, if there were a repetition of the Ibn Musaad
and Amir Neshmi enterprises, the King would condone them instead of disapproving
of them as he had done in February ? Did it mean that they might be repeated with
some countenance from the King ?
6. Fuad Bey promised to give me his personal views with equal frank. Jls
another day. When he reverted to the subject on the 5th August, however, he said
he would prefer to limit himself to a few points. He tried once more to convince me
that the Ibn Musaad and Amir Neshmi affairs, even if those gentlemen had
entered Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan (a point on which both the King and he always make
reservations), were not raids but punitive expeditions of a sort undertaken in
circumstances of great provocation and urgency. I said I had no reason to doubt
that the leaders had entered Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan . I quite realised that their enterprises
had a special character, but I preferred to call them raids rather than call them
invasions. Fuad Bey went into a long explanation of how our Air Force on the
Iraq frontier had claimed the right to follow up in Nejd. He admitted that his
Government had hotly denied it, but said they had finally expressed willingness to
agree to a droit de suite both ways. I pointed out that unless such an agreement
had been reached, he was defending the possibility of a right of pursuit into
Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan which by his own account his Government had denied in regard to
penetration from Iraq into Nejd. As for the Bihani affair, Fuad reminded me
that he had merely given me an aide-memoire and that Bihani had, in fact, been
trying to do something for which no provision had yet been made in pursuance of
article 3 of the Hadda Agreement. I replied that his protest, whatever the form,
was violent and rested largely on an obviously cock-and-bull story. On my side, I
had given him the facts and had drawn the morals. I had not complained of the
refusal of the local authorities to allow Bihani to proceed to Jauf. It might have
been better if Colonel Peake had set the diplomatic machinery in motion and moved
this Legation to get permission for the journey; but that would have meant at
least a fortnight’s delay to get the Hejaz Government’s assent, and the assent would
probably have been withheld.
7. These conversations, strenuous as they sound, were perfectly amicable.
They helped, I hope, to clear the air. Having received in the interval between them
your telegram No. 109, I was able to tell Fuad Bey that His Majesty’s Government
were giving the matter their most serious attention.
8. I have been a little hampered by not having yet received from His Majesty’s
High Commissioner in Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan the detailed account of the work of the Tribal
Control Board, which I hoped to have in May. I realise the great preoccupation of
the High Commissioner, and I have meanwhile had the advantage of reading in the
Mecca newspaper C£ Umm-el-Qura ” of the 25th July an account of two cases in
which, according to the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan press, severe action has been taken by the
board. The following is the gist of the “Umm-el-Qura ” article :—'
(a) The cc Umm-el-Qura ” quotes the Amman newspaper the “ Ardan ” (issue
No. 348) as publishing a report, under the heading e ‘ The Bedouin
Tribes,” to the effect that the Tribal Control Board has sentenced twenty
tribesmen of the Beni Atiya and Howaitat to seven months’ imprison
ment for having participated in raids against Nejd tribes; that one of
the sheikhs of the Shararat had been sentenced to one year’s imprison
ment; and that the paper learned with regret of such severity, and
begged the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan Government and the Amir to reconsider the
sentences with a view to transmuting them into fines.
(&) The “Umm-el-Qura” states in comment that it is a pity the “Ardan”
did not give the names of the guilty tribesmen, so that it might be known
whether the news was true or was merely circulated to create the
impression that the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan authorities are taking action to prevent
and punish raids. Doubt is expressed as to anything having been done,
for raids continue, and are being reported daily from the frontier by
telegraph.
9. I am sending copies of this despatch and enclosures to His Majesty’s High
Commissioner for Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan .
I have, &c.
ANDBEW BYAN.