File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎76r] (156/898)

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the rebels. In .addition to the points on which he had already received assurances, he
requested that any rebel entering Iraq or Koweit should be arrested, tried and
punished, and that his weapons should be confiscated.
15. On the 24th November His Majesty’s agent received a letter from the King:
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d^ated the 17th November^ in which Ibn Saud draws attention to the difficulties
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reated for him and the obstacles placed in the way of the accomplishment of his
task by the attitude of the British Government in regard to the neutrality of Iraq
and Koweit and the failure of the authorities in Koweit to prevent the rebels crossing
the border. The rebels, he says, have been informed that he is about to attack them,
and they have received advice from high quarters in adjacent countries to disperse
if they are unable to withstand him and to seek safety by mingling with the Arabs
in Iraq and Koweit. He himself has no desire to cross these frontiers, but he asks
what he is to do if the forces of Iraq and Koweit are unable to prevent the rebels
from taking refuge there when he pursues them. Is he to retire, leaving them free
to create new difficulties? As regards the proposal that he should take effective
measures himself to prevent the crossing of the border, how can he do this when the
forces within Koweit and Iraq have failed to do so, and when he himself is debarred
from entering Koweit territory ?
16. He has, he says, already set his forces in motion and expects shortly to
establish contact with the rebels. He therefore suggests that the British Government
should agree to one of the following two alternatives :—
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(a.) That Koweit subjects should be ordered to collect in a given place, far
removed from any likely zone of hostilities, and that they should be
protected there by an armed force. He should be informed of the place
selected. The Koweit Government should then man the frontier with a
sufficient force to repel the rebels and to drive them back as far as they
can, even pursuing them in Nejd territory itself. If any rebel succeeds
in crossing the frontier he should be seized and handed over. If this
alternative were adopted it would then be unnecessary for him to cross
into Koweit territory himself. Liaison officers should be attached to the
two forces engaged in dealing v/ith the rebels.
(b.) If this is not agreed to, he proposes that the subjects of Koweit should be
ordered to concentrate in one locality as above 1 and that he should be at
liberty to pursue the rebels anywhere. He would then take upon himself
to protect the subjects of neighbouring countries from aggression, and he
would undertake to withdraw every single soldier as soon as the pursuit
of the rebels was at an end.
17. In the King’s opinion there is no other method of dealing with the problem
and exterminating the rebels. If neither alternative is accepted, he sees nothing for
entail^; it but to give up his punitive measures, as also a plan for establishing internal
Deen pers» security. He will not then hold himself responsible for any acts of aggression against
ItoftiG adjacent countries.
18. Having regard to the importance of allowing Ibn Saud no excuse for an
attempt to enter Koweit territory, or for permitting his tribes to recommence raiding,
erefore, dp His Majesty’s Government regard it as essential that all possible measures may be
jated, espfi* taken to carry out more completely and effectively the pledges already given by them
e opport 11111 : to the King. They have accordingly issued instructions that certain military
javeerf; dispositions, in addition to those already adopted, should be taken at once. These
replied^ Erasures contemplate the forcible ejection of any of the contending forces of either
i si re (lthat may penetrate into Koweit territory and also of any isolated groups of
«■ -enii' rebels who may cross the border in order to mingle with the tribes of Koweit in the
manner suggested by the King. His Majesty’s Government have also strongly urged
that the tribes of Koweit and the refugee Awazim should be removed from the
neighbourhood of the frontier or other possible scene of hostilities. The Sheikh of
Koweit has been asked to give his consent to the execution of these measures in his
J territory and to co-operate in carrying them out.
19. The concurrence and co-operation of the Governments of Iraq and Trans
jordan has similarly been sought in order to prevent the infiltration of rebels into
their territories.
20. On the 8th November, Sheikh Hafiz Wahba left Jedda for Koweit with the
alleged purpose of discussing the situation with the Sheikh of Koweit and of
enquiring into the allegations made against Koweit in regard to assistance rendered
to the rebels. His presence in Koweit, where he arrived without credentials or
introductions, caused some embarrassment to the sheikh, who considered that Ibn
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