مجموعة ٦/ ٩١ (٢) "المملكة العربية السعودية: سياسة حكومة بريطانيا. المساعدة لابن سعود (البعثة العسكرية البريطانية إلى المملكة العربية السعودية)" [و‎‎٥‎٠] (١٢٩/٩٩)

C.-in-C.
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Military Mission to Saudi Arabia
1. The War 0 fice informed us (flag C) that a Military Mission is
to be formed as part of the assistance which H.M.G. wishes to give
to King Ibn Saud.
2. This Mission will be paid for by H.M.G., and War Office
proposed that the Staff should consist of
(a) British Army personnel - 3 Officers and 1 B.O.R.
(b) Indian Army personnel - 16 Officers and 25 I.O.Rs.
The War Office is anxious to meet King Ibn Saud* s request for
there to be a high proportion of Sunni Moslem personnel on the Staff
of the Mission..
3. This proposal was referred demi-officially (flag D) to G.H.Q.(l)
who replied (flag K) to the effect that if an official application
was received for the provision of this staff it would be necessary
to advise the Government of India to turn it down in view of the
extreme shortage of officers. In regard to the Sunni Moslem personnel,
it was stated that it was contrary to your policy to select individual
officers by religious sects.
4. The War Office was accordingly informed of G.H.Q.(l)*s views,
and was asked if the matter should be dropped.
5» It appears, however, that the War Office attaches great importance
to this Mission, and to the provision of the required personnel.
In a further D.O. (flag A) they have asked us to take up the
matter officially suggesting thatj-
(a) the Indian Governnent might like to be represented on the
Mission owing to the value of Middle East oil to India, and
the fact that the importance of Saudi Arabia will increase
in consequence.
(b) The Mission would derive value from having Sunni Moslem
Officers as the latter, besides being "persona grata” with
the Saudi Arabians, would be able to visit Holy Places such
as Mecca to do business with the Minister of Defence should
he be detained there.