مجموعة ١٠/١٧(٣) "شؤون داخلية: الوضع السياسي؛ العلاقات مع الحكومة البريطانية" [و‎‎١‎٥‎٤] (٥١٣/٣٠٧)

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From: SAUDI ARABIA .
Mr. Stonehewer Bird, (Jedda). ^
29th December, 1940.
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.-^3^ Your telegram No„ 199 0
Ibn Saud has sent very long reply in which following are
the salient points.
2. He is most grateful for His Majesty's Government’s
message. He wishes to re-assert that his sole aim is furtherance
of British and Arab interests. He himself has had to exercise
great patience in his dealings with Iraq in order to avoid grave
misunderstandingSo His policy in this respect has been largely
dictated by his desire not to embarrass His Majesty’s Government.
Small measure of agreement has been reached though propaganda
against him still continues in Iraq.
3. Hie Majesty’s Government will thus understand what he
has said about Iraq was not dictated by love of Iraq or of
Rashid Ali but in our common interest. Ibn Saud believes
Rashid Ali to have confidence and devotion of Iraqi people and
army and that it would therefore be best to win him over to
British side as alternative would create situation which Foreign
propaganda would not be slow to exploit.
4. He has constantly advisee both Nuri Pasha and Rashid
Ali to work with British. Former as is known misinterpreted
his action and used his statement to lessen his, Ibn Saud s
prestige in Arab eyes. Rashid Ali replied he would not work
against His Majesty's Government and would carry out strictly
terms of treaty but unfortunately his acts and mptives were
misrepresented by his political opponents. He is now faced with
choice of two evils; to go beyond terms of treaty in his
co-operation with His Majesty's Government and incur hostility
of Iraqi people and armv or to adhere strictly to terms of treaty
and be thought by British to be adopting a hostile attitude.
5. Ibn Saud has made a final appeal to Rashid Ali in a
letter which I summarise in my immediately following telegram.
If His Majesty’s Government are determined not to trust Rashid AH
Ibn Saud will let matter drop though he will always be ready to
give Iraq such advice as he may feel to be useful. If noweyer
His Majesty’s Government thinks cooperation with Rashid All is
still possible he will exert himself to promption of full under
standing. Understanding must be on the basis of mutual trust
and it must hot appear to the Iraqi people that Rashid All is
working in British interests to the detriment to those of Iraq.
Rashid Ali must on his side exert himself to put a stop to all
anti-British propaganda^
6. Ibn Saud ends by expressing hone that His Majesty’s
Government will give full consideration lohis views which he
* expresses in conviction that he is acting in interests of His
Majesty’s Government Iraq and Arab cause generally.
Repeated to [grp.undec. ? Cairo] telegram No. 102. Please
repeat to Bagdad No. 74 Jerusalem No, 82.