CAB80-32 — Page 261

Page 261

ANNEX

I

A

Copy of a telegram No. 347, dated 26th November, 1941

from Jedda to Foreign Office.

IMMEDIATE.

219

Please repeat to Cairo as my telegram No. 168 for

Minister of State.

My immediately preceding telegram.

Secret.

The

Do you consider it expedient at this moment to press

If Ibn Saud, on your for withdrawal of Italian Legation? advice refuses to advance money, members of his staff and employees of shipping company will be unable to live. King would I feel be unhappy if asked to starve these people out but if I were to communicate to him the evidence of their misbehaviour which I have just obtained he would I think have

Italian Legation Doctor a valid excuse for expelling them, has tried on three occasions to bribe confidential clerk employed by Californian Arabian Standard Oil Company to furnish the Legation with information regarding vital points in the Company installation at Dahran, location of afy shelter, anti-aircraft defences etc.

2.

I see certain advantages in withdrawal of Italians from the Hejaz. They, with their compatriots in the Yemen, are only remaining link between Near East and the Axis. Though their influence is nil at present they might, if Germany advanced further east, prove of use as a channel of communication with and a centre for Fifth-columnists who mig spring up if the German forces appeared to be approaching.

3.

No

As against this I see a possible disadvantage.

It will be known that His Majesty's secrets are kept here Government are helping Saudi Arabian Government fiancially. It has already been said by Ibn Saud's detractors that the rials minted in India were payment by His Majesty's

It will be said Government for his opposition to Rashid Ali,

It that Ibn Saud has been bribed to expel the Italians, seems to me that much of Ibn Saud's influence with the Arab world, and perhaps Moslem world in general, depends on the fact that he is generally regarded as an independent monarch whose actions are not dictated by any Christian Power. Ibn Saud's value to us is his undoubted influence with the

The Italians are Arabs of almost all shades of opinion. generally hated in the Near East but German propaganda woulu not be slow in endeavouring to reduce Ibn Saud's prestige by presenting him as a puppet in British hands.

4.

De Goury has formed the opinion from his talks in Rujadh that Ibn Saud would be prepared to join the Allies openly and that military values of such an alliance would I am report. outweigh considerations in paragraph 3 above. his views in a separate telegram.

Repeated to Cairo under Foreign Office No. 4145

+

INDIV.

Page 261

↓

Page 261

Page 261