IOR/L/PS/10/391/2

Part 12 concerns British policy regarding the dispute between Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd, also referred to in the correspondence as Ibn Saud] and King Hussein of Hejaz [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī, King of Hejaz]. Much of the correspondence relates to (unsuccessful) efforts by the British to arrange a meeting between the two rulers. The correspondence discusses conditions and arrangements for a proposed meeting at Mecca (as suggested by Bin Saud), immediately after pilgrimage [Hajj].

The correspondence goes on to discuss details of an armistice agreement made between King Hussein's committee and the Nejd deputation, at Mecca. A translation of the agreement states that the two parties agree to end all hostile movements and resume negotiations as soon as possible through the British government.

Also included are the following:

• details of a proposed gift of £5000 from the British government to Bin Saud (plus an honorary GCIE – Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire);
• proposals of a payment of £30,000 by the British government to King Hussein, on the condition that the King signs a treaty with Turkey [the Treaty of Sèvres, which began the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire];
• a copy (in Arabic) of the aforementioned Treaty;
• news of reports that King Hussein's son, Sherif Feisal [Fayṣal bin Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī, also referred to in the correspondence as Amir Feisal], has been crowned King of Syria, and copies of translations of correspondence between Feisal and Bin Saud.

The item includes the following principal correspondents:

• Secretary to the India Office's Political Department (John Evelyn Shuckburgh);
• Civil Commissioner, Baghdad [held in an officiating capacity by Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold Talbot Wilson];
• High Commissioner, Egypt (General Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby);
• Political Agent, Bahrain (Major Harold Richard Patrick Dickson);
• Foreign Office;
• War Office;
• Treasury;
• Bin Saud.