LORD RAGLANMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government: (1) How much has been paid in subsidies or otherwise to the King of the Hejaz since February 1, 1919; and (2) how much has been paid to the Sultan of Nejd as an inducement to refrain from attacking the King of the Hejaz.
LORD BELHAVEN AND STENTONMy Lords, the noble Lord, in my opinion, has done well to call attention to the large recurring expenditure involved in the grant of subsidies to Arab Sheikhs. In war time, and particularly during the war with the Turks, which was fought on Arab soil, they were not only justifiable but necessary. There is not the slightest doubt that on the whole we got good value for our money. It is possible even to defend these grants at the present time on the ground that, in order to fulfil our obligations during the war with Turkey, we promised the Arabs, in return for their co-operation, and in some cases for their benevolent neutrality, to free them from the rule of the Imperial Ottoman Government. We are trying to set up Governments in Arabia and Mesopotamia. As a result of the situation in which we find ourselves we are responsible, or at least the Mahomedan world will hold us responsible, that the Arab Governments which we have set up in place of the old Imperial Power are both able and willing to protect the Holy Places in Mesopotamia and Arabia and to keep open and safe the pilgrim routes from all quarters of the East.
No doubt, it will be urged that we must give support to the Shereefian family while it is establishing itself, and that the cheapest 242 and best way of doing this is by pecuniary aid. But we must hope that we shall not I be committed to these allowances for ever. Sooner or later, these Arab Governments will be able to stand on their own legs without our subsidies. Otherwise, the allowances will be a perpetual burden, and the beneficiaries themselves will be corrupted and will tend to depend upon us for more and more to maintain them. The object for which the allowances were originally made will soon be forgotten, and the recipients will look upon them as a regular blackmail or backsheesh.
Lord Raglan is well aware of the conditions in Syria and Arabia. He would not have asked this Question had he not had serious doubts as to the continued efficacy of these allowances. I am glad, therefore, to support him in his endeavour to obtain assurances from His Majesty's Government that their Continuance is essential to the fulfilment of our obligations or to the attainment of some well-defined policy.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDMy Lords, the reply which I will give on behalf of the noble Marquess, Lord Curzon, will, I think, assure Lord Belhaven that these subsidies are now being steadily reduced. On February 1, 1919, the King of the Hejaz was receiving from His Majesty's Government a subsidy of £200,000 a month, which represented the rate of financial assistance given during the war by His Majesty's Government in support of the military effort made by King Hussein on the side of the Allies. This rate was gradually reduced to £25,000 a month in December, 1919, and payments ceased altogether at the end of February, 1920. The total paid to King Hussein during this period was £1,200,000. The only payment which has been made to King Hussein since that date was an advance of about £5,000 in August, 1921, to be repaid in cash or deducted from such subsidy as His Majesty's Government might eventually decide to pay to him.
The total paid by His Majesty's Government to the Sultan of Nejd since February 1, 1919, is £232,908. The Sultan continues to receive a subsidy at the rate of £5,000 per mensem. It is not correct, however, to represent this subsidy merely as an inducement to Ibn Saud to refrain from attacking the King of the Hejaz. It is designed to provide the Sultan with the means of controlling his turbulent subjects, 243 and thus maintaining friendly relations with those of his neighbours who are linked with the British Government by Mandate, Treaty or other instrument.