"ملفات 61/12 و 61/16 (D 80) معاهدة بين بان سعود والحكومة البريطانية" [ظ‎‎١‎٦‎٩] (٤٠٨/٣٤٥)

Sir G. Clayton replied by pointing out that the right of manumission already
existed, and that consequently His Majesty's Government were not asking for
anything new, but merely for the recognition of an existing practice. He further
observed that, while His Britannic Majesty's consul did not seek out slaves in order
to manumit them, it was out of the question to agree that he should refuse asylum
to fugitive slaves who might take refuge in the consulate, and abstain from
tacilitating their return to their homes. If slave-owners treated their slaves well
they would minimise the chances of their wishing to obtain manumission.
Referring to the question of compensation, Sir G. Clayton pointed out that His
Majesty's Government could never subscribe to such a system, which would be
tantamount to tolerating, and even perhaps encouraging, an institution which they
regarded with abhorrence and could never recognise in any form.
His Majesty then stated that he would not ask His Majesty's Government to
renounce the right of manumission in the treaty, but would merely request a letter,
on behalf of His Majesty's Government, waiving the right of manumission and
agreeing that slaves who might take refuge at the British consulate should be turned
away.
Sir G. Clayton stated that any such letter was quite out of the question.
After some further conversation, Sir G. Clayton said that he thought that the
time had come when the best course would be for him to submit a draft of this article
to His Majesty for his consideration and observations in the light of the conversa
tions which had taken place.
Sir G. Clayton then informed Ibn Sand that His Majesty's Government attached
considerable importance to the nationality clause which he also thought desirable
from the point of view of the Government of the Hejaz and Nejd. The article as
drafted contained nothing which could be held as encroaching upon the independence
and sovereignty of Ibn §aud's Government, and the treaty would be incomplete
without some such article. His Majesty agreed in principle,"but maintained that a
formula must be devised which would protect him from the misconstruction which
was certain to be placed upon it in its present form and the consequent criticism to
which he would be exposed. He was frankly nervous lest some veiled form of
intervention or recognition of a right of interference should be involved.
Sir G. Clayton appreciated His Majesty's point of view, and stated that he
would endeavour to find a means of removing His Majesty's apprehensions on this
point.
It was then agreed that Sir G. Clayton should submit a draft treaty for Ibn
Sand's consideration.
After the 4th meeting the mission presented a draft treaty (annexure ), but
before submitting a counter-draft Ibn Sand stated that there were several points,
more particularly with regard to the protocol, which he would like to discuss further'.
hth Meeting.
The 5th meeting, therefore, took place at the King's house at 2-30 p.m . on the
14th May. Shaikh Abdulla Damluji, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Shaikh
Hafez Wahba were present at this meeting, in addition to those who had attended
the previous meetings.
The King said that he would have liked to meet His Majesty's Government on
the question of the protocol but regretted that he could not see his way to do so. He
suggested the following ways of overcoming his difficulties :—
(a.) Postponement of the question altogether.
(6.) Submission by both parties to arbitration.
(c.) An ultimatum on the subject to be issued to him by His Majesty's Govern
ment, couched in terms which would make it impossible for him to do
anything but accept the state of affairs in spite of his strong objections
to doing so.
He added that if no one of these courses was acceptable, could Sir G. Clayton
any other solution which would save him from the violent criticism to which
his signature of the protocol would expose him ?
Sir G. Clayton stated that His Majesty's Government were not in favour of
postponement and wished this question to be settled now. He could not admit any
proposal for arbitration as the question was one which must be settled between His
Majesty's Government and Ibn Sand's Government without any outside interference.