TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 September 1927, Page 5

TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP.

—.— ♦ BRITAIN AND HEJAZ. TERMS OF THE aGREEAIENT. (British Official Wireless). RUGBY, Sept. 23. The text has been issued 1 of tn,'± treaty of friendship and good understanding between Great Britain and Hej az and Nejd and its dependencies, which was .signed, at Jeddah on Alay 20. and ratified there on September 17, together with the notes exchanged relative thereto. The treaty was negotiated by Sir Gilbert Clayton with the Amir Faisal, son of the King of Hejaz and Nejd. Article 1 provides British recognition of the complete and absolute independence of trie dominions of the King of Hejaz and -Nejd and its dependencies.

Article 2 provides for peace and friendship between the -contracting parties, each undertaking to -us© all available means to prevent its 'territories being used as -a base- for unlawful activities directed against tranquility in the territories of the other. Articles 3 and 4 provide that -the pijrrimage® of British subjects and Bri-tish-protected persons and property shall be safeguarded while in the Hejaz and that, in the- event of the -death of any -such pilgrims their possessions shall he forwarded to their rightfa! aeins through the British agent in Jeddah.

Article 5 provides for mutual recognition of the mutual statu® of subjects, it being understood that the principles af international law in force between independent Governments shall be respected. Article 6 provides for -the mamtaanance of friend!v relations by Hejaz -and Nejd with the territories of Kuwai. Bahrain and the Oman Coast, who are in special treaty relations- with the British Government. Article- 7 contains an undertaking to co-operate with the British Government, in the- suppression of the- slave trade. . .

In the Notes exchanged Great Britain adheres to her definition of the frontier between Hejaz and Transjor-dania- and while Hejaz find® it impossible in the ore.sent c ircumstances to effect •‘a final vettlement of this question an undertaking is given to maintain the status lno in the main Aquaba district not to interfere in its administration until favourable circumstances permit a final settlement.

In a further Note the British Government express their inability to- renounce the .r’ght of manumitting slaws, which had long been practised by -the British consular officer, and which enables them to liberate any slave who freely presents himself with a request for liberation and .repatriation to hiis country of origin. It is explained t-liat the British Government’s insistence i« solely based on huamnitarian grounds, and is not meant as an interference with the Hejaz affairs.