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PERSIAN UULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY, 1920. 67

the S.L. Bahrain had not been repaired till then the journey both ways was
performed in a sailing boat in spite of the Shimal.
The Political Agent accompanied the Deputy Resident in the R.I.M.S.
.Lawrence II to Qatar on 24th April returning on the 30th April after
investing Shcihli Abdiillali-biii Jasim-alh-Tlmni with the insignia of C.I.E.
As the Lawrence went aground immediately on arrival in Doha
harbour it was not possible to land at Qatar and the Sheikh was invested on
board.
Qatif was visited by tho Political Agent, Major Dickson, in September.
The Political Agent accompanied Sir Percy Cox to meet Bin Saud in Ojair
on 26th returning on 29th September.

V.—Bin Saud.
Major H. R. P. Dickson, C.I.E., left for Hassa to meet Bin Saud on 29th
January. He was accompanied by Mr. Yusif bin Ahmad Kanoo, M.B.E., and
Abdul Aziz Quasaibi, Bin Saud’s Agent in Bahrain. Bin Saud chiefly repre­
sented his troubles with the Sharif of Mecca arising out of the dispute over the
districts of Kliuvma and Tarabah which had led to constant friction, inter­
tribal raids and mutual incriminations on the part of these two chiefs, and
expressed his foar of losing control over the Akhwan who had not bcon
allowed to perform the pilgrimage and were threatening to do so by force. He
also asked for an enhanced subsidy to help him to meet the increased expenditure
incurred in keeping the border tribes under control and ensuring peace in
Central Arabia as also for paying off a heavy debt contracted by him during
the war. Bin Saud, further, requested Government to arbitrate in the matter
of Kburmah and Tarabah. As result of these appeals, Bin Saud’s subsidy of
£5,000, which was going to be discontinued or reduced by one-half, was con­
tinued. The Sharif was moved to agree to a personal meeting with Bin Saud
who eventually consented to go with a limited following, perform the Hajj and
then meet the Sharif at Taif or Sail with a view to essaying a friendly settle­
ment. Bin Saud asked that an Indian Muslim officer be sent with him and
Khan Sahib Syed Siddiq Hassan, Iudian Assistant, Bahrain, was deputed. In
the meantime, Bin Saud changed his mind on the plea of being unable to gj .
with so small a following as Government had advised, at the Sharif’s request.
He was at last persuaded to send his oousin Ahmad Thanaiyan as-Saud with
only 40 Nejdis. . After the Hajj, a preliminary agreement was signed in Mecca
on 4th September 1920 by which both sides undertook to close all hostilities,
tribal raids or agitation, and to endeavour re-establish friendly relations
between Nejd and Hejaz pending the final settlement of the disputed areas of
Khurma and Tarabah, etc., to be made under the auspices of His Britannic
Majesty’s Government.
Bin Saud has nlso had trouble with three other neighbouring chiefs, Ibn
Rashid, Ibn Sabah of Koweit aud Ibn ’Aayidah of ’Assir. The causes or
motives, in each case, were similar, namely, the growing strength of the
fanatical Akhwan movement in Nejd and Bin Saud’s half-concealed ambitions
to subjugate the whole or greater part of Arabian Peninsula, which arc
avowedly curtailed only by his desire to respect his treaty obligations with (he |
British Government whoso friendship lie cherishes above all. Ife not infre­ !
quently writes to the Political Agent and High Commissioner, Baghdad, that if
Government cannot help him to solve his political and financial difficulties lie
should be told so, and then he would sweep away all his enemies for whom lie
is more than a match. The Akhwan, who now comprise all the Nojdrs,
Uadhar aud Bacln together with a large number of Hejaz border, tribes
freshly won over partly by proselytizing, partly by subsidising, Lave durinsr
July to September last succeeded in over-running Assir and taking Bblia, the
ruler Mohammed bin ’Aayidli having been brought away to Riyadh where he
is still a prisoner. The expedition against Ibn Rashid and Slianmmr in May-
Juue 192 ) was lead by Bin Suad’s eldest son Saud and was less successful. A
severe fight took placo in which both sides claimed victory, Bin Saud’s losses
were, howevor, said to be comparatively small and a booty oi two thousand