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File 488/1920 Pt 3 ‘Hedjaz:- Relations between H.M. Govt & King Hussein. Question of subsidy. Negotiations for conclusion of a treaty.’ [111r] (226/940)
The record is made up of 1 volume (466 folios). It was created in 25 May 1921-25 Aug 1925. It was written in English, French and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
[This Document is
the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government 1
**
1 P 1
EASTERN (Arabia).
1514
' - Vj
[April 19.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
p)‘>3
i r A. ' • . . ^
Section 1.
[E 3897/46/91]
No. 1.
The Marquess Curzon of Kedleston to Acting Consul Grafftey Smith (Jeddah).
(No. 50.)-
Sir,, Foreign Office, April 19, 1923.
WITH reference to my telegram No. 11 of to-day's date, I transmit to you the
accompanying copy of the draft treaty of peace between His Majesty’s Government and
King Hussein, as initialled by me and Dr. Naji-el-Assil, who left London for Mecca
on the 17th April taking with him the initialled texts. He hopes to be able to obtain
King Hussein's authority to return to London for the formal signature of the treaty
at an early date. Dr. Naji is confident that if King Hussein authorises him to sign
the treaty, he will ratify the treaty so signed.
2. The text of the treaty differs, as you will see, in some respects from that signed
by Colonel Laurence and the Emir Abdullah in December 1921, notably as regards
the insertion of an important new article 2 (which partly reproduces article 17 of the
unratified Laurence-Abdullah treaty) and also as regards articles 3, 4 and 5, which
provide for the question of the disputed land frontiers of the Hedjaz. The bulk of the
articles, however, are identical with those of the latter treaty.
3. As it has been essential, owing to King Hussein’s ignorance of English and his
general attitude, to omit the clause usually inserted in such treaties, wherein the
English is declared to be the authoritative text, it has been necessary to exchange
notes with Dr. Naji, copies of which are enclosed, strictly defining the Arab translation
of an important passage in article 2 of the treaty. It was also agreed that the Arabic
text should be initialled subject to final scrutiny by an impartial English expert in
Arabic, and copies of a note addressed to Dr. Naji in this sense and of his acknowledg
ment are transmitted herewith. If this expert advises an amended version of the
Arabic text as the result of the scrutiny, it will be telegraphed to you to communicate
direct to Dr. Naji.
4. Dr. Naji intends to use his best endeavours to persuade King Hussein to ratify
the Treaty of Versailles, which will automatically make the Hedjaz a member of the
League of Nations.
5. You will of course keep me informed by telegram as far as possible of King
Hussein’s reception of the treaty.
6. Dr. Naji raised the question of King Hussein being invited to visit Great
Britain if he accepted the treaty. In spite of the failure of this inducement during
the negotiations in 1921, he believes that it may materially help on this occasion.
I am considering the advisability of such an invitation and the conditions upon which
it should be extended, and Dr. Naji was informed before his departure that I would
telegraph my decision to you for communication to him.
7. As you will also remember, it Weis tacitly understood between both parties in
the previous negotiations in L921 that, on their successful conclusion, a subsidy would
be paid to King Hussein of 5,000/. a month. His Majesty’s Government have now
decided that the policy of paying annual subsidies to certain rulers in the Arabian
peninsula shall be discontinued. Ibn Saud is therefore to be paid a final sum of
50,000/. and the ruler of Asir 30,000/. It is intended likewise to pay King Hussein
50.000/. as an inclusive and final instalment if and when the treaty is concluded. It is
feared that King Hussein may be under the impression that, largely as a set-off to the
continued payments to Ibn Saud during the period while King Hussein was receiving
nothing, he is to receive not only some payment representing what he considers to be
the arrears of those past subsidies which, in his opinion, he ought to have received, but
also a continuing subsidy for the future. Dr. Naji-el-Assil, however, has been informed
of the decision of His Majesty’s Government, and will be left to explain matters to the
King in his own way. He believes it possible that King Hussein may be better
prepared to accept a disappointment in this matter when he learns that Ibn Baud’s
subsidy is also to be discontinued, and if the humiliating aspect of his remaining in
some sense a stipendiary of His Majesty’s Government, although an independent
monarch, is emphasised to him.
8. Copies of this despatch are being sent to His Majesty’s representatives at Cairo
and Constantinople.
I am, &c.
CURZON OF KEDLESTON.
[276 t—1]
About this item
- Content
The volume contains papers concerning relations between the British Government and the King of Hedjaz [Hejaz or Al-Hijaz].
Most of the papers relate to negotiations between the British Government and King Hussein ibn Ali al-Hashimi over the terms of an Anglo-Hashimite treaty, and revisions to the draft treaty. These papers mainly consist of correspondence and copies of draft versions of the treaty.
The file also includes correspondence regarding:
- The proposed subsidy to the King of the Hedjaz
- The Foreign Office’s objection to the India Office’s suggestion that King Hussein should be persuaded to publicly recognise the religious suzerainty of the Sultan of Turkey as Khalif (Khaliph) over the Holy Places of the Hedjaz
- King Hussein’s threat to abdicate on 27 February 1922, and the question of whether he should be allowed by the British Government to remain in Mecca in the event of his abdication
- The Foreign Office’s request for the views of the Secretary of State for India (Viscount Peel) on the advisability of requiring King Hussein to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, as well as to accept the treaty with HM Government, as conditions which would need to be met before Hussein would be invited to visit Great Britain
- The refusal of the British Government to enter into further negotiations with King Ali ibn Hussein al-Hashimi for the conclusion of the Anglo-Hashimite treaty, following King Hussein’s abdication in October 1924 (after military defeat by Ibn Saud), ‘so long as present unsettled conditions in the Hejaz continue’.
The correspondence (and copy correspondence) is mainly between the following: the 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. , the Colonial Office (John Evelyn Shuckburgh, John Ernest William Flood), and the Foreign Office; the 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. and the Government of India Foreign and Political Department; the Foreign Office and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence; the Foreign Office and HM Agent and Consul at Jeddah (Major W E Marshall, Laurence Barton Grafftey-Smith, and Reader (William) Bullard, successively); the Foreign Office and Dr Naji el Assil, agent of King Hussein; the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the British Resident at Aden; and the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the High Commissioner of Palestine (Herbert Louis Samuel).
The volume includes a document entitled ‘Translation of a Report sent to His Majesty King Hussein 1st to Mecca’, signed Habib Lotfallah, Envoy Extraordinary of King Hussein, London, 24 October 1920, which includes translations in French and Arabic (folios 101 to 102).
The file includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (466 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The subject 488 (Pt 1-2 Arabia, and Pt 3 Hedjaz) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/880 and IOR/L/PS/10/881. The volumes are divided into three parts, with parts 1 and 2 comprising one volume, and part 3 comprising the second volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 468; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
- Written in
- English, French and Arabic in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 488/1920 Pt 3 ‘Hedjaz:- Relations between H.M. Govt & King Hussein. Question of subsidy. Negotiations for conclusion of a treaty.’ [111r] (226/940), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/881, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100085520015.0x00001b> [accessed 23 April 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/881
- Title
- File 488/1920 Pt 3 ‘Hedjaz:- Relations between H.M. Govt & King Hussein. Question of subsidy. Negotiations for conclusion of a treaty.’
- Pages
- Front , Back , Spine , edge, head, tail , front-i , 2r:17v, 24r:24v, 26r:27v, 34r:56v, 58r:82v, 85r:100v, 103r:108v, 109v, 110v:124v, 127r:139v, 152r:205v, 206v:213v, 216r:241v, 244r:281v, 293r:344v, 348r:376v, 380r:383v, 396r:399v, 402r:428v, 431r:444v, 447r:468r
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence