الملف E/8 I ابن سعود [و‎‎٢] (٦٠٦/١٠)

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On the evening of the 27th I was aurprtaod to h«ftr that all
arrangements had been made for the departure of Sheikhs Hamad
and Abdullah at 4 Arabic (about 10*50 a«m*) the next morning*
The next morning I sent the Interpreter to Sheikh Abdullah
with a message expressing surprise that no reference had been
made to me and displeasure that my advice was (apparently) to
be Ignored# While the Interpreter was away Sagar Zayanl, the
Sheikh's Secretary, called to say that the Sheikh had arranged
for the departure of his sons at noon. While still talking
with Sagar, Mr* Soofl returned with the report that the Sheikh
was coming over Immediately to see me*
In a few minutes the Sheikh arrived and appealed to me to
withdraw my objection to the departure of his sons as everything
had been arranged, and everybody knew they had arranged to e'cart
that day and that he would be disgraced If the arrangement was
altered etc.,etc. Finally the Sheikh said he had written to
Bin Saud saying that his sons Hamad and Abdullah would start
on Saturday, wind permitting, to pay him a private visit* I
reminded the Sheikh that since I had been here I had tried to
work with him In a friendly way and not to worry him with advice
on all sorts of matters and that I was sorry and naturally not
pleased to find that he had disregarded my advice In this mat
ter. But as he had written to Bin Saud that his sons were going
I thought that they had better go, to avoid possible Ill-feelingJ
at the same time I had mentioned the matter to you In my last
letter, and did not know what you would think of his having
written to Bin Saud definitely arranging the visit without con
sulting me. The Sheikh said that the visit was quite Private
and his sons only went as he had always been on friendly terras
Bin Saud etc., that It had no political motive, aftd that
he thought It better to get It over In case the Turks might soon
be sending gunboats to Katlf•
It la/very unusual thing for the Sheikh here to come and see
the Political Agent and,practically he never comes except on
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arrival and departure and King*a Birthday etc.j ( I do not knot
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how this custom arose, but I think It should be changed when
there Is a younger Sheikh): It was therefore very much agalm
the grain that the Sheikh came yesterday and aakoa me to wit