ملف رقم ٢١٨٢ لسنة ١٩١٣ الجزء ٩ "الجزيرة العربية - السياسة تجاه ابن سعود" [و‎‎٣‎٥] (٤٠٦/٦٧)

95
w l
74
Telegram P., No. 1958, dated the 27th (received 28th) December 1918.
Fiom—His Majesty^s High Commissioner, Egypt, Cairo,
T °~ The meutoelhr he GoVernIDe0t » f Ind « “ Fo'reign a „d Political Depart-
(Addressed Foreign Office; sent Baghdad.)
Excellent report on Najd Mission by Mr. Philby is with me and T di 0 „ .
wtth him Khurma question. An account of lengthy discuVsions ffi nIITT 1
on same subject between Kmg Hussein and Colonel Wilson is also ^vith™^ 61 "
^aS:° n ln •^ ra b Bulletin” of particulars of these discusses"fbeffig
The following are my general conclusions. Between Bin Saud and lTin»
Hussein the dispute is one of principle : aims of two are incompatible ffin
Saud relies on his treaty with us to assist him to dominate Centra? Arabia fn
as working to recover territory of former (? Wahabite) Empire VZ
Hussem is seeking His Majesty’s Government’s support-diplomatic and
other-to gam nominal hegemony over a loose system of autonomous Arab
States thus securing Sunni pre-eminence. Both parties hope to refeive
enlightenment from our decision m regard to Khurma dispute as they am
uncertain of the policy of His Majesty’s Government. ^ J aie
I am of opinion that, according to European standards, the balance of
evidence favours King Hussein’s claim which has never been disputed by u S
On the other band, a forcible assertion of King’s claim is liable precipitate
a general conflagration as Bin Saud, through the Ikhwan, is now in possession
of Khurma, and sectarian sentiment is much inflamed. 1
Concentration of Sheriffial levies to carry out operations against Ikhwan
»<y. Serial No. 71 . about Khurma have had to be postponed
,. , , ow iag to Pakhri’s refusal* to surrender
Medina and consequent rupture of armistice: but King affirms prolono-ation
of status quo will facilitate spread of (? Ikhwan) influences in Hediaz to a
point when his position will become untenable. We might have to send
Moslem regular troops to garrison town and prevent Wahabite occupation in
tiiat case and it Sunni possession of Mecca was endangered.
.. I ( W j [ 1 t0 , in<lu , Ce , Kins to “oept as a purely provisional boundary the
line of ohaib-Shaha which runs approximately from Quraba to (PMarani
(both places remaining under Sheriffial control) and passes ten miles west of
t Not received. Khurma. If as I infer from your tele-
. , .. , • . ., gramf No. 1524, His Majesty’s Govern
ment have decided that they cannot compel Bin Saud to withdraw Ikhwan from
JOiurma, ^h^re is I fear little chance that he will accept this boundary and
th^t he will interpret proposal as an intimation of His Majesty’s Government’s
refusal to entertain his political projects and will abdicate immediately is
dColonel Wilson’s belief. j
This refers to my telegram No. 1927.
75
Telegram R. t No. 11604, dated the 27th (received 28th) December 1918.
From—The Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Baghdad,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Delhi. r
(Addressed Secretary of St#te for India ; repeated Cairo.)
t Serial No. 72 . Y . our telegram,} December 24th,
received December 26th.
Except for a statement^ made three weeks ago by King Hussein that
§ c/. Serial No. 64 . certain events have occurred and Colonel
Wilson’s suggestion as to Ibn Saud’s
.complicity we have no material on which to base objection to ultimatum to
Jf