مجموعة ٦ / ٨ (١) "سلسلة مطبوعة: ١٩٢٩ إلى ١٩٣٨". [و‎‎٢‎٥‎٠] (١٠٦٢/٥٠٤)

87
L632(C) F&PD
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
(G) Record of Audiences with Ihn Saud on June 14 and 17, 1931.
The King arrived in Jedda early on the 14th June. In accordance
with his custom he received the foreign representatives in succession that
morning. As my audience on this occasion was formal I did not touch
on current business, but I said that I had been awaiting an opportunitv of
conveying to His Majesty the congratulations of His Majesty’s Govern
ment on the successful negotiations with Iraq (see Foreign Office telegram
No. 86 of the 21st May). I said that I had previously offered my own
congratulations and those of Sir F. Humphrys, but that His Majesty’s
Government had waited until ratification was assured. I explained that
I had received my instructions some little time ago when His Majesty was
expected in Jedda, but that, having told Sheikh Yussuf Yasin the nature
of the message, I had deferred the communication until I could see the
King in person. The King paid a renewed tribute to the part played by
His Majesty’s Government and myself, and spoke with great appreciation
of Sir F. Humphrys, when at a later stage I said that Sir Francis had asked
me to thank him for his gracious reply to a personal letter sent at the time
of Nuri Pasha’s visit. I ovserved that we had, indeed, worked hard for
a successful result, but that its attainment was due to the attitude observed
by the parties directly concerned in the final negotiations.
2. I had discussed outstanding business so thoroughly with Fuad Bey
that I had really little to say to the King himself during this visit to
Jedda. I therefore told Fuad Bey on the 15th June that I was not applying
for a business audience, but that it might be useful if I saw the King, as
His Majesty was going to Riadh and I to London; that he himself might
have matters to discuss with me; and that, in any case, I hoped the King
would give me a few minutes before he left for Mecca, so that I might pay
my respects on the eve of our separation for a long period.
3 The King received me on the 17th June and kept me for two hours.
Fuad Bey interpreted, and Sheikh Yussuf Yasin was present nearly the
whole time. I began by saying very much what I had said to Fuad B^y
as stated in the previous paragraph. It was clear that His Majesty did
not wish any more than I did myself to discuss the details of any partmula
question, but he engaged me in a conversation of a general kind in whuA
on his position vis-a-vis of His Majesty’s Government The following is
an account of what passed, necessarily abridged and not based on notes. 1
have omitted one or two digressions .
4 The Kino- spoke of his old friendship with Great Britain He said
that ill tercertinjf tf this them, 1, did “ “.KVd'Si, M*liS,“
ahl,. was 1 f n .P er, f h ^‘ t it g] a ^s[i 0 l f fofldm w’aTthat of his personal position
ssssr-srasrs ^ ’z*sJat>is s ■
yarVeaga israwwiw
&* Sir Percy had not »>« £,§”■ “in"
His Majesty s Government. He a n-ilbert had gone to Iraq
reported, but there had been no res P onse ’ • t0 p. 0 over the same ground
and had died soon after. He was now & & w hen our discussions related
with me, not having been able to do ^V.T he Zd ^n Sheikh Hafiz
to particular matters He mentio ^ a j m i n g at, but that the sheikh
reV^Kat he halU found a suitable opportunity of speaking to
His Majesty’s Government.
- t tbp entire disposal of the King to convey
5. I said that I was at the e Maiesty’s Government,
anything he might wish to communicate to His Maje y