مجموعة ٦ / ٦٧ (١) "حدود جنوب شرق الجزيرة العربية وقطر". [و‎‎٢‎٧‎٦] (٧٩٤/٥٥٦)

concluded he would use all his resources and influence on our side. He proposed
a draft.
^ 179. The following are the portions of the draft submitted by Ibn Baud,
which bear on the question of his boundaries and of his abstention from inter
ference with the territories of the Arab proteges of H.M. Government:—
“ (1) That the British Government will acknowledge and admit that Nejd,
El Hasa, Katif, their surroundings and the ports appertaining to them on
the shores of the Persian Gulf are to me and (are) the territory of my fathers
and forefathers; that I am the independent ruler of them and after me my
sons and their descendants by inheritance; and that the above-mentioned
territory is an independent territory in which there is no (right of) inter
ference by any Foreign Power;
“(2) That they (the British Government) will declare its (the territory’s)
boundaries north, south, east and west, by land and by sea, and that
(regarding) the nomads who wander between neighbouring towns, which are
either under British protection or (directly) under British Government, if
there should arise differences between me and the Chiefs of the said towns
and complaints be made in (these) matters, they should be decided according
to the ownership of fathers and ancestors ”
180. Captain Shakespear, in his letter forwarding this draft, remarked that
the addition to our responsibility did not appear heavy. The Turkish menace
from the west and north of Nejd, though very real to Ibn Baud, need give us no
anxiety; and while we should probably be called upon to act as arbiters somewhat
more frequently than hitherto between Arab Sheikhs along the coast and Ibn
Baud, this was a duty largely to the advantage of our own interests.
181. Sir Percy Cox saw no special difficulty as regards the clauses referred
to in paragraph 178 above, but remarked, as regards protection against external
aggression by land, that, “ apart from the Turks, Central Arabia is practically
inaccessible by land to any power but ours, and I venture to think that we should
incur little risk by giving the desired undertaking, subject to the reservation
that aggression be unprovoked.”
Views of Government of India.
182. The Government of India pointed out that Ibn Baud’s proposals
involved many matters of detail which would require lengthy consideration, and
suggested that we should aim at concluding a treaty on broad lines for the
moment, accompanied by an undertaking to conclude, as soon as this could
conveniently be arranged, a detailed treaty in regard to other matters outstanding.
They suggested that the guarantee of independence should be to the effect that
“the British Government recognises Ibn Baud as independent ruler of Nejd,
Hasa and Qatif, and guarantees hereditary succession to his dynasty ”
H.M. Government approved, but (on the proposal of the India Office) suggested
that the new treaty should also “ contain a clause binding Ibn Baud, subject to
eventual definition "of boundaries, not to interfere with Koweit, Bahrein, El Katr
and the Trucial Chiefs.” There is nothing on record to show the precise object
of the reference to a subsequent delimitation.
183. Discussions were pursued on this basis between Sir Percy Cox and
Ibn Baud in April 1915. The British draft and the draft submitted by Ibn Baud
on the points now under consideration were then as follows :—
British Draft. Ibn Sand’s Draft.
Article I. The British Govern
ment do acknowledge and admit that
Nejd, El Hasa and Qatif, and their
territories and ports on the shores of
the Persian Gulf are the territory of
Ibn Baud and his fathers before him,
and do hereby recognise the said Ibn
Baud as the independent Euler thereof,
and after him his sons and descen
dants, etc
Article I. The British Govern
ment do acknowledge and admit that
Nejd, El Hasa, Qatif, Jubail, their
dependencies and territories, which
will be discussed and determined here
after, and their territories and ports
on the shores of the Persian Gulf are
the countries of Ibn Baud and of his
fathers before him, and do hereby
recognise the said Ibn Baud as indepen
dent Euler thereof and as absolute
chief of their tribes, and after him his
sons, etc
To P.R.,
4.1.15,
No. S. 13.
Vic. tel. r
29.1.15,
P. 350/15.
I.O. to F.O.,
30.1.15.
P. 350/15.
F.O. to I.O.,
2.2.15.
Tel. to Vic.,
1.2.15.
P.R. to G. of
L, 1318 B.,
26.6.15,
P. 2832/15.
3076
K