ملف رقم ٢١٨٢ لسنة ١٩١٣ الجزء ١١ " الجزيرة العربية: العلاقات مع ابن سعود والنزاع على منطقتي نجد والحجاز" [و‎‎٣‎١‎٥] (٦٧٨/١٨٤)

7
r^Tr)
could hardly refuse an invitation of His Majesty’s Government. Such a meeting would
havfc to take place in April to allow Hussein to return in time for the Pilgrimage. In
the meanwhile a truce would be assured, and, to ease the situation, Hussein’s consent
to allow the Pilgrimage from Nejd might be obtained.
On the 5th March the foreign Office received copies of two telegrams from the (E. 1028)
CiHI Commissioner, Baghdad, of the 24th February. In the first he reported that Ibn
baud was anxious to comply with the expressed desires of His Majestv’s Government
as regards a meeting with the Sherif, but that he could not meet him at Jeddah, Aden
or Cairo. He would, however, agree to meet him either at Baghdad or at Bombay,
provided :—
1. That Hussein met him in person.
2 . That he should not himself leave for Bombay until His Majesty’s Government
had assured him that Hussein had left Jeddah.
3. That he was given a month for the settlement of important internal questions.
This would enable him to leave Nejd on the 5th April.
In the second telegram the Civil Commissioner expressed the opinion that Ibn
bauds reply must be regarded as final, so far as Jeddah, Aden and Cairo were
concerned. He did not think that the proposal for a meeting at Bombay or Baghdad
could profitably be pursued, but suggested that both sides might agree to meet at
Khurma or Turaba.
This telegram had crossed the India Office telegram of the 23rd February, in which (E. 1089)
a meeting was suggested on board one of His Majesty’s ships. On the 6 th March the
Foreign Office pointed this out to the India Office, and suggested that strong pressure
should be biought to bear upon Ibn Saud, with a view to his consenting to meet
Hussein on board ship.
On the 8 th March a despatch was received in the Foreign Office from His Majesty’s (E. 1154)
High Commissioner at Cairo, in which he agreed that the statement made by the
Nejd delegati( n on the subject of forcible conversions by the Akhwan should be
communicated to King Hussein, and on the 12th March the Foreign Office authorised
Lord Allenby to make this communication at his discretion.
On the 10th March a telegram was received from Lord Allenby, in which he (E. 1286)
enquired whether he should wait until it was definitely known that Ibn Saud had
agreed to meet Hussein before informing the latter that he was expected to preserve
the sfaiws quo, and on the 12th March the Foreign Office instructed him that he should
make the communication at once, since Ibn Saud had already been informed that this
was being done.
-v? n March the Foreign Office received copies of a telegram of the (E. 1453)
3rd March from the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, in which he stated that he had
that day posted copies of interesting and valuable reports by the Political Agent,
Bahrein, on his recent visit to Ibn Saud. and suggested that His Majesty’s Government
should defer a decision on the proposed meeting between the two rulers until these
reports had reached them.
This telegram was repeated to Cairo, and on the 15th March a telegram was (E. 1452)
received from Lord Allenby, in which he suggested that the Civil Commissioner should
be instructed to telegraph the gist of these reports, since time was an important
factor.
fE e 16th March the Foreign Office received copies of a telegram of the (E. IbbS’'
Ilth March from the India Office to the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, in which they
referred to their telegram of the 23rd February proposing a meeting on board ship.
Ihey asked whether it was certain that Ibn Saud would reject this alternative. They
also enquired what were Ibn Sand’s objections to Aden as a meeting place, and where
le -was at that moment. In a reply dated the 13th March the Civil Commissioner said
t at he had regarded it as certain that Ibn Saud would reject the alternative of a
meeting on board ship. He understood from the Political Agent, Bahrein, that Ibn
oaud s objections to Aden were that it was near Hussein’s territory and distant from
ins own, and that he regarded Aden as being under the influence of the Egyptian
authorities, who were pledged to support Hussein against Ibn Saud. Ibn Saud was on
that day at Riadh, though he had intimated his willingness to leave that place for
Hasa on the 5th April, in the event of Hussein agreeing to meet him at Bombav or
Baghdad.
On the 19th March the India Office telegraphed to the Civil Commissioner, (E. 2513)
Baghdad, asking him for the gist of the reports of the Political Agent, Bahrein, and
[3058J D