ملف ١١٦٦/ ١٩٢٥ "الجزيرة العربية: نجد؛ المفاوضات مع ابن سعود بشأن مسألة العراق-نجد وحدود شرق الأردن؛ بعثة السير ج. كلايتون؛ اتفاقية بحرة، الثاني من نوفمبر ١٩٢٥" [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٤] (٧٦٩/٢٩٥)

42
desert were probably necessary to him. In towns, however, some
system might have to be established whereby weapons would be left
at the entrance to a town and collected when leaving.
I then referred to the question of the return of loot taken in past
raids between tribes of ‘Iraq and Nejd. His Highness and myself
had discussed the matter at a previous meeting, and had agreed
that it was not possible for us to go into details, but that Taufiq Bey
Suwaidi, the ‘Iraq delegate, should discuss the question with Sheikhs
Hafiz and Yusuf. Taufiq Bey Suwaidi had informed me that he had
come to an agreement with His Highness’s advisers. I intended,
therefore, to ,send a letter to His Highness, suggesting a procedure
based on that agreement. I did not. think it was a matter that
should form the subject of a formal Agreement between us, but
thought that the question could be best arranged by means of an ex
change of letters.
Ibn Sa‘ud agreed to this procedure.
I then told His Highness that I thought I should acquaint him
with the attitude of His Majesty’s Government as regards Mr.
Philby, who was at present in Jedda. Mr. Philby now held no
official position under His Majesty’s Government, and, moreover,
had come to Jedda against their wishes. It was hardly proper that
he should intrude into an area of hostilities in which His Majesty’s
Government had declared neutrality and were determined to observe
it.
Ibn Sa‘ud noted my remarks and informed me that he had received
a letter from Mr. Philby asking for permission to visit him, travel
ling either by Rabegh or Lith, to which he had replied saying that
he was busy at the moment but that, if Mr. Philby wished to come
later, he had no objection to his doing so by way of Rabegh.
The meeting then closed.
Fifteenth Meeting.
An informal fifteenth meeting was held at 8 p. m. on the 30th
October, at which were present His Highness Ibn Sa‘ud, Mr.
Antonius, and Sheikhs Hafiz and Yusuf.
I started the conversation by informing His Highness that, as
our negotiations had now been satisfactorily completed, I proposed
to devote the few remaining days of my stay to private talks with
him, at which I hoped he would bring up any questions concerning
his country and its future development, on which he might wish His
Majesty s Government to be informed or regarding which he would
like their views. I added that there were one or two questions that
struck me as being suitable for discussion. One was that of the
channel of communication which should be adopted between his
Government and His Majesty’s Government, who were not entirely
satisfied with the present method and would like any suggestions he
might have to make with a view to improving it.
Ibn Sa‘ud replied that he himself was not satisfied with the present
system, which he thought led, at times, to misunderstanding and
lack of sympathy on the part of His Majesty’s Government owing
to their not being fully informed of his needs and of the general