that the Secretary felt confident that at the appropriate time the ques. tion would receive the sympathetic consideration which it deserved. On several occasions subsequently the Legation at Cairo has had this matter brought to its attention either by the Hejazi Agent at Cairo or by Mr. H. St. John Philby, a British subject residing at Jeddah who is particularly close to the Government of King Ibn Saud. In his despatch No. 315 of January 11, 1930, the American Minister at Cairo, after referring to these informal communications with the Hejazi Agent and with Mr. Philby, expressed the opinion that the time had come when favorable action should be taken upon the formal request which the Hejazi Government had made for recognition. To this communication the Department replied that it was inclined to the view that if, and when, recognition is extended to the Government of King Ibn Saud, it should be extended simultaneously to the Government of the Imam of Yemen. At the same time it was pointed out that the Department did not contemplate that it would be in a position to give further consideration to this question until it had determined the character of American representation in Iraq, and that a decision in the latter question must await the ratification of the tripartite convention signed at London on January 9, 1930, between the United States, Great Britain and Iraq. 6 The Department has recently been advised by the American Consul at Baghdad that the Iraqi Parliament has passed a bill authorizing the King to ratify the above mentioned convention. It is therefore probable that the ratifications of the convention will be exchanged at London at an early date." The question of the character of American representation in Iraq is now under consideration, and for your confidential information it may be stated that the Department is contemplating raising the rank of its representation in Baghdad to that of a legation and appointing the present consul, for the time being at least, as chargé d'affaires. The point has been reached therefore where it is possible to give consideration to the matter of extending recognition to the Government of the Hejaz and Nejd and its Dependencies and to the Government of the Imam of Yemen. After careful consideration the Department has come to the conclusion that the degree of political development in the Yemen and the nature of the Imam's relations with neighboring States as well as the extent of American trade in the country are not such as to make it advisable for the United States to extend recognition to the Government of the Imam at this time. There appears to be no reason, however, why this Government should 6 Foreign Relations, 1930, vol. I, p. 291. This took place February 24, 1931. 8 Alexander K. Sloan. not recognize the Government of King Ibn Saud, provided that it is possible to obtain certain assurances from that Government. It so happens that the present Hejazi Minister in London, Shaikh Hafez Wahba, was present at the interview in Cairo at which the First Secretary of the American Legation in that city conveyed to the Hejazi Agent the message contained in the Department's instruction No. 24 of January 7, 1929, to the American Legation at Cairo. It is believed that because of his familiarity with the question, gained partly at the above mentioned interview and partly elsewhere, Shaikh Hafez Wahba is the logical person with whom to carry on present negotiations. Upon the receipt of the present instruction, and after a study of the accompanying documents, it is desired that a member of the Embassy staff seek an early interview with the Hejazi Minister in London. At this interview the American representative should state that he is calling under instructions from his Government to inform the Hejazi Minister that the Government of the United States is now in a position to give favorable and sympathetic consideration to the request for the recognition of the Hejaz and Nejd and its Dependencies which was contained in the note addressed on September 29, 1928, to the Secretary of State by the Acting Director for Foreign Affairs at Mecca. He should add that before taking further steps in the matter the American Government would be interested to learn whether the Government of His Majesty King Ibn Saud would be prepared to enter into a treaty of friendship, commerce and navigation providing for unconditional most-favored-nation treatment. At the same time this Government would be glad to receive information with respect to the provisions of the Hejazi and Nejdi laws governing the administration of justice in civil, commercial, criminal and personal status cases in which foreigners are involved. The American representative should express the hope that the Hejazi Minister will be good enough to communicate the foregoing to his Government at Mecca with the request that any reply which that Government may wish to make be communicated through the Minister to your Embassy. The Department also desires that you request the appropriate authorities of the Foreign Office to be good enough to furnish you with information with regard to the administration of justice in the Hejaz and Nejd with special reference to civil, criminal, commercial and personal status cases in which British subjects are involved. You may assure the Foreign Office that any information which it may see fit to furnish on this subject will be considered by the Department as strictly confidential. You may at the same time state, for the confidential information of the Foreign Office, that this Government now has under consideration the advisability of extending recognition to the Government of King Ibn Saud. The Department will look forward to receiving a report of the conversations in which you discuss the above matters with the Hejazi Minister and with the Foreign Office. Very truly yours, HENRY L. STIMSON 890f.01/31 Memorandum by the First Secretary of Embassy in Great Britain (Thaw)9 This morning I telephoned the First Secretary of the Legation of the Hejaz and Nejd to ask when a reply might be expected to the memorandum regarding the recognition of the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd and its Dependencies by the United States which was handed to the Minister by Mr. Atherton 10 on March 5. After consulting the Minister, the Secretary informed me that the Minister had this morning received a communication from his Government stating that the suggestions made were acceptable, and that the answer would be in the affirmative, further details being now on the way. The Secretary added that the delay was due to the time required for communicating with his Government, two weeks being needed in each direction, but gave me to understand that the Minister would write to the Ambassador as soon as he was in possession of his full instructions, which it was thought would be within the next few days. LONDON, April 1, 1931. BENJAMIN THAW, JR. 890f.01/33 The Ambassador in Great Britain (Dawes) to the Secretary of State No. 1832 LONDON, April 14, 1931. [Received April 22.] SIR: Referring to my cablegram No. 107, April 14, 4 p. m.," and previous correspondence concerning the question of extending the formal recognition of the United States Government to the Kingdom of the Hedjaz and Nejd and its Dependencies, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the memorandum handed me this morning by the Minister of the Hedjaz and Nejd in reply to the memorandum Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in Great Britain in his despatch No. 1808, April 1; received April 11. 10 Ray Atherton, Counselor of Embassy. "Not printed. given by me to him on March 5, 1931, a copy of which was forwarded with the Embassy's despatch No. 1808, April 1, 1931.12 Respectfully yours, For the Ambassador: First Secretary of Embassy [Enclosure] The Minister of the Hejaz and Nejd in Great Britain (Hafiz Wahba) to the American Ambassador (Dawes) MEMORANDUM The Minister of the Hedjaz and Nejd has received the reply of his Government to the Memorandum presented to him by His Excellency the American Ambassador in London, on the 6th of March 1931. The Government of His Majesty King Abdul Azeez Al Saud tender their thanks to the American Government for their readiness to give favourable and sympathetic consideration to the request for the recognition of the Kingdom of the Hedjaz and Nejd, and its Dependencies. His Majesty's Government signify their desire to enter with the American Government, into a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation-providing for the most favoured nation treatment as they have done with other powers. His Majesty's Government have the honour to inform the American Government that the Hedjaz and Nejd laws, governing the administration of justice in civil, commercial, and criminal cases are The Islamic Laws. In addition, a special council is provided for commercial cases. With regard to cases of Personal Status, non-Moslem foreigners are treated according to special laws in common with other non-Moslem Europeans. The Minister of the Hedjaz and Nejd would be grateful if His Excellency the American Ambassador would be good enough to convey the above to the American Government. [LONDON,] 13 April 1931. 890f.01/34a: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Dawes) WASHINGTON, May 1, 1931-6 p. m. 113. Your despatch 1832, April 14. Please inform the Hejazi Minister that the United States extends full recognition to the Government of His Majesty King Ibn Saud of the Hejaz and Nejd and its Depend "Neither printed. encies and request him to be good enough to communicate the fact to the Foreign Office at Mecca. At the same time state that pending an opportunity for the negotiation of a formal treaty of commerce and navigation, this Government would be glad to enter into an exchange of notes with his Government providing for reciprocal unconditional most-favored-nation treatment in such matters. If the Hejazi Government is prepared to proceed to such an exchange of notes full instructions will be sent to you at an early date in order that the notes may be exchanged in London. The Department will issue a statement to the press regarding the recognition of the Hejaz for publication in the morning papers of May 4th. Please so inform the Hejazi Minister in order that he may advise his Government of American recognition prior to that date. STIMSON 8901.01/37 The Minister of the Hejaz and Nejd in Great Britain (Hafiz Wahba) to the American Ambassador in Great Britain (Dawes) 13 LONDON, 4 May, 1931. YOUR EXCELLENCY: I must thank you for your letter of the 2nd instant 14 in which you intimate that the Government of the United States has given full recognition to the Kingdom of the Hedjaz and Nejd and Its Dependencies. I have duly communicated this fact to the Foreign Office at Mecca. I am glad to inform Your Excellency that the Government of His Majesty King Abdul Azeez Al Saud is prepared to enter into an exchange of notes with the Government of the United States, pending the negotiation of a formal treaty of commerce and navigation, providing for reciprocal unconditional most-favored-nation treatment. I shall be very grateful if you will be good enough to convey this to your Government. With the assurance [etc.] HAFIZ WAHBA 711.90f2/6 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Dawes) No. 953 WASHINGTON, October 12, 1931. SIR: The Department refers to its telegram No. 113 of May 1, 1931, instructing you to inform the Hejazi Minister that the United States extends full recognition to the Government of His Majesty, King Ibn Saud of the Hejaz and Nejd and its Dependencies. At the same time 13 Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in Great Britain in his despatch No. 1920, May 8; received May 18. 14 Not printed. |