23. Lieut.-CommanderKENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what subsidies are now being paid to Ibn Saud and to other Arab potentates, respectively, including the Sheruf of Mecca and King Hussein; and whether it is intended to continue these payments?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe only subsidy now paid is that of £5,000 a month to Ibn Saud. There is no present intention of discontinuing this payment. No subsidy is being paid to King Hussein, who is also Grand Sheruf of Mecca.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs there no means of altering the policy so as to save this payment of £5,000 to this independent potentate?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAs stated in the reply to the question, subsidies have already been abolished in the case of all the other Arab potentates, which is a cutting-down. This is a rather large question of policy, which must be reviewed before we can suddenly discontinue the present arrangement.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs this the only potentate who refuses to keep quiet without a subsidy?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have no reason to suppose that that statement is in the least accurate.