File 57/1928 Pt 10 'Nejd-Transjordanian Frontier: Situation. 1928-29' [‎207v] (425/1792)

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6. The three sheikhs were incredibly tiresome over point (c), and hours we
wasted. The King had broached the matter at the audience and seemed satisfi rl
with an explanation to the effect that the formula “ within a reasonable time ” Wa ,
intended to be interpreted in the most favourable sense. In the subsequent
discussions it was not clear whether His Majesty was more anxious to secure the
admission of all claims or the recognition of all which had not been notified wit] fit
delay. In the end the three sheikhs seemed to be arguing in favour of the latter
thesis, under some suspicion 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 side would produce quantities of
hitherto unnotified claims. Mr. MacDonnell vainly pointed out that he had merelv
cited his instructions by way of preface to his memorandum, and that his instruc
tions tied him as coming from His Majesty’s Government, who had sent him out
I argued, equally vainly, that any view previously held by the King (for his repre
sentatives were insistent that he had always held strong views on the subiectl
remained intact, and that he could not question the instructions given to
Mr. MacDonnell without withdrawing partially from his undertaking to give His
Majesty’s Government a free hand. I will explain presently how the matter was
disposed of.
7. The King and the three sheikhs preferred to express no views as to where
Mr. MacDonnell should hold his enquiry. They insisted, however, that there could
be no necessity for entering Hejaz-Nejd territory. They maintained, further, that
the state of the country (due, it was added as an afterthought, not to the turbulence
of the innocent Nejdis, but to the prevalence of wicked 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 raiders) was
such as to make any visit to Hejaz-Nejd territory most inadvisable. All the eloquence
of Mr. MacDonnell and myself could not move them from this position.
8. On the afternoon of the 8th June I prepared, in consultation with
Mr. MacDonnell, a draft record of points already agreed on or on which we thonofit
agreement might be reached on the lines of the draft. I enclose a copy of this draft,
which I sent to Fuad Hamza late that evening. The King countered next mornino-
with a letter to Mr. MacDonnell, a translation of which I also enclose. Whit
Monday passed in two desperate discussions. Towards the end I suggested that, if
nothing could be agreed on as regards points (c) and (d) in the record, I should deal
with them in a covering letter to the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs. While
I was drafting a possible letter for this purpose, Sheikhs Yussef Yasin and Hafiz
Wahba went out to pray on the verandah of the Legation, where we were sitting
I do not know the purport of their devotions, but that draft was finally accepted bv
the King. I enclose copies of the record as finally drawn up and the covering letter,
with which I handed it to Sheikh Fuad Hamza at a formal meeting held on the
morning of the 10th June to make sure that the texts were, in fact, agreed.
9- The results of all this labour were meagre, but they are of some value,
especially the promises regarding the Hejaz Government agent. The affability of
oth sides survived the great strain put upon it. On the night of the 8th June the
mg entertained Mr. MacDonnell, myself, wuth the principal members of my staff
and the commander and two officers of H.M.S. “ Clematis,” at a great dinner. He
Wa fi/?u a meri A mo T arc h mood, told us much about the stars, and cracked jokes
W1 ^- 6 ^ e ®P er Key of the Kaaba. He received Mr. MacDonnell in farewell
an lence efore he left on the afternoon of the 10th June, and was again most forth
coming though more serious. _ He excused himself for having seemed stiff and
ungracious uring the negotiations, saying that he had been seeking in a spirit of
truth to enter only into such commitments as he could fulfil. I took it on me to reply
to this part of His Majesty s remarks. I assured him that there had been no
T ^^lf US T eSS A an u 1 that ’ lf Here had been stiffness, it had not been all on one side.
I Q S !q 1 f’n e fn e I ed P i! ail i thou ^ h P ollte speaking as the best method of
tlTTvM Tf d I el V ha ’i wh T er l ha H nuts had to be cracked, strong means had to be
used to get at the kernel. I hoped that, before he was finished,^ Mr. MacDonnell
wouM produce a whole basketful of nicely-shelled walnuts. In this exchange, which
It™ Th 7- Mr ‘- ^ a l D0nne 1 s P™ a expression of thanks for the courtesy shown
, I had m mind the necessity I should be under of expressing myself verycategori-
subjects 1 dlSCUSS10nS Wlth the Km S on the g eneral frontier situation and other
r, IF • 1 am sending copies of this despatch and enclosures to His Majesty’s High
Commissioner for Palestine and to Mr. MacDonnell. J '
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