File 57/1928 Pt 4 'Iraq-Nejd Relations: Mission of Sir G. Clayton to Ibn Saud.' [‎78r] (155/1364)

territories that gave currency to such rumours by way of a service
to the Hashemite rulers, but that there were also journalists in all
countries who reported the same kind of nonsense as had appeared
in certain ‘Iraq newspapers about the desire of the British Govern
ment to construct a railway from Basra across Jauf to Aqaba.
Amongst those journalists, I might instance Mr. Philby, who was
renowned not only for his friendly feelings to the kingdom of the
Hejaz and Najd, but also for his unfriendliness towards the Hashe
mite family. And Mr. Philby, as His Majesty was aware, had
himself spread that ridiculous rumour in the very territory of His
Majesty.
6. The King said that he was aware of that and then proceeded to
speak of what he called the unwillingness of his people to place their
faith any longer in written assurances. He said that they had often
turned to him in the last few months and spoken angrily about the
policy of treaties and agreements. They had asked him to explain
how it was that the agreements made at Bahra were constantly
infringed by the rulers of ‘Iraq and Trans-Jordan, how the Treaty
of Jeddah, which had recognised their absolute independence, had
been violated from time to time by aeroplanes and armoured cars,
how the stipulation that the adjoining territories would never be
used as a base for unlawful activities against their interests was
frequently infringed, not only by individuals but also by official
agents of the ‘Iraq Government. “ I find it impossible,” added the
King, “ to go to my people at the present critical juncture and say
to them that as a result of my negotiations with you I have obtained
yet another written assurance.” His people had certain very
limited standards of judgment and reasoning, and to their elementary
minds such a step would only appear in the light of a piece of trickery
on his part. He concluded his statement with an emphatic protesta
tion of his desire to retain the friendship of Great Britain, not out of
love for Great Britain necessarily, but because he realised that it
was imperatively in his interests to retain it.
7. I said to His Majesty that I failed to see, so long as he main
tained that attitude, that any useful purpose could be served by a
continuation of our conversation. I asked him to consider the
question not only in its immediate aspects, but also with a view to
his interests in the future. He had spoken at great length of the
feeling of his people in the matter of the posts and said that the
building of those posts had only served to confirm their suspicion
and distrust. He was now asking that the posts be removed with a
view to allaying the suspicions of his people. In my opinion, how
ever, the removal of those posts in the present circumstances would
still further confirm his people in their suspicions and distrust ;
and it seemed to me far wiser to explain to them the true nature and
object of those posts and to leave it to time to show that their
suspicions and misapprehensions were really unfounded. I would