"ملف 8/15 سلسلة الجزيرة العربية - ١٩٣٣-١٩٣٩" [ظ‎‎١‎٧‎٦] (٤٣٤/٣٥٢)

46
what filled me with misgiving, much annoyed me and affected my honour are
the two following points :—
(1) The question of the frontiers of Qatar, Oman and other principa
lities of the Gulf.
(2) The question of trade and marine transport.
As regards the first point, these territories themselves, as you are aware,
were under the suzerainty of my ancestors, and until the time of my grand
father, Faisal, paid an annual tax for the preservation of the relationship of
vassal to overlord. But in view of our desire for the continuation of our
friendship with the British Government and the said Amirs to whom we are
bound by old ties, we have recognised their positions in the Persian Gulf and
their principalities, and have respected the treaties between them and the
British Government.
But it never entered my head that this could be a resaon for taking away a
part of our territories and annexing it to those territories at a time when every
one admits that the peace which those places enjoy is due to God and to us.
It is not reasonable that such pressure should be due to suspicion of us or
to doubt as to our intentions or our friendship, or to the accusation that we
covet a territory which is ours. For the covetous man does not covet a
mountain or an inlet ; he covets rather a densely populated country.
What we care for is the protection of our honour and the defence of the rights
of our subjects and tribes.
As to the question of trade, I know that ships call at, and carry goods and
all kinds of merchandise to, ports on the Persian Gulf which are less important
than mine, and I who count myself the oldest friend of Britain and the greatest
of the Arabs am placed at the mercy of Koweit or Bahrain ; and whenever
the question is raised, it is said that it is one for the shipping companies. I
did not believe that friends could treat each other in such a cruel manner.
Praise be to God who granted me and my country more power than that
of Koweit, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, &c. Why should ships call at those
places and mine suffer deprivation in that no ships call there ?
I hope you will, as you have stated, consider the situation as it is and a
veil will be drawn over the past if its mistakes can thus be corrected. Other
wise you may inform me of the real reasons. I have summarised in this letter
what I have told you at length in my conversation.
March 23, 1937.
m
Telegram from Sir R. Bullard, Jedda, No. 48, dated the 29th April
1937.
My despatch No. 51 of 30th March.
Two Caproni aeroplanes, balance of Italian gift, arrived by air from
Rome 27th April. Arrival almost completely ignored by Saudi officials.
(29)
lReceived on 20l.h June 1937, with Political Secretary 's letter No. 22, dated
3rd June 1937.)
Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter, dated 27th May 1937.
Letter from the British Legation, Jedda, to the Right Hon’ble
Anthony Eden, No. 85-E, dated the 2nd May 1937.
In continuation of my despatch No. 327 of December 21st last, I have the
honour to inform you that the Saudi Arabian Mining Syndicate (Ltd.) have
not as yet been successful in discovering a supply of water adequate for the
purposes of the Madh-adh-Dhahab mine. However, they appear to be con
fident of ultimate success for they have been accelerating the work on the
Jedda “ terminal ”, and also on the jetty which now projects some distance