THE FOREIGN POLICY OF KING ABDULAZIZ (1927- 1953) A Study in the International Relations of an Emerging State Mohammad Zaid Al-Kahtani Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy ., Department of Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies October 2004 The candidate confirms that the work submitted is his own and that appropriate credit has been given where reference has been made to the work of others. This copy has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgment. I Dedication This work is dedicated to my beloved father and mother, who have shown so much patience during my long absences from my country. I also dedicate this work to my devoted wife, Hayya, for her unlimited encouragement, support and patience. Also, I dedicate this work to my children Madawi, Zaid, Nassir, Al'anood, Hind, Turki and Najla' for their long patience. Finally, I dedicate it to my brothers 'Id, Shalih, Nassir and Fuhaid, for their support and to my entire family. II Acknowledgements Perhaps I first assign my deepest thanks to Allah for the accomplishment of this work. the his most pleasant moment in the life of a postgraduate student is when he accomplishes study is and can afford the time to reflect on those arduous years passed by. In my case the occasion particularly gratifying as these years were very hard in terms of both the living and study condition. However, I was particularly lucky to have Dr. Hussain Sirriyeh as my supervisor. My sincere thanks go to him for his invaluable support, advices, encouragement, and constructive comments throughout the various stages of this project. A special note of recognition and appreciation goes to HRH Prince Nayif Ibn Abdulaziz, HRH Prince Salman Ibn Abdulaziz, HRH Prince Mamduh Ibn Abdulaziz and HRH Prince Ahamad Ibn Abdulaziz. This work could not have been done without the support of some individuals to whom I am greatly indebted. Without their support, this PhD would have remained a dream. Those people are First General HRH Prince Mut'ib Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz, Major General 'Isa al-Rasheed, Brigadier Salamah Ibn Su'aidan and Brigadier Sultan al-Harthi. I also would like to express my deep gratitude to my interviewees in this study. I indeed thank His Highness Prince Abdulrahman Ibn Abdullah, Shaikh Ahmad al-Mubarak, Dr. Abdulaziz al-Khuwaiter, Prof. Bakur al-'Amri and Dr. Lateefah al-Salloom for their supportive guidance and responses. 0 My sincere appreciation is due to my friends, Lieutenant Colonels Dr. Abdulkareem al- Rumayyan and Dr. Tha'ar al-Muhayya who indeed helped me so much during my study. A special note of appreciation also goes to Abdullah al-Nasir, the Head of the Saudi Culture Bureau, and Salehal-Ribdi, the Head of the National Guard Office in London. Finally, I would like to thank the following institutions which made it possible for me to have access to source material: the British National Archives, American National Archives, King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, King Abdulaziz Public Library, King Fahd National Library, the Library of King Khalid Military Academy and Leeds University Library. III Abstract King Abdulaziz stood out as a major figure in Saudi domestics and foreign policy. He laid the foundation for Saudi foreign policy and international relations. Available studies on King Abdulaziz's foreign policy either concentrated on earlier periods or dealt with part of his era. This study deals with the whole period of King Abdulaziz, approaches his foreign policy as a case study of a newly-emerging state and assesses the problems associated with this case. The study is organised as follows: chapter one discusses the rise of King Abdulaziz and the Saudi achievement of a sense of statehood. Chapter two explores the problems which confront newly-emerging states in the formulation and implementation of their foreign policy. Chapter three discusses the genesis of Saudi foreign policy structure. Chapter four focuses on Saudi Arabia's policy towards the affairs of the Arabian Peninsula. Chapter five examines the policy of King Abdulaziz towards the Arab World. Chapter six adressesthe King's policy in the area of Islamic affairs. Chapter seven analyzes the King's relations with Britain after the Treaty of Jeddah of 1927. Chapter eight deals with Saudi policy towards the U. S. The study hopes to provide a better understanding of the process of Saudi foreign policy making under King Abdulaziz. A major finding of this study is throwing light on the problems experienced by Saudi Arabia as a newly-emerging state while making and implementing its foreign policy, particularly, in relation to a number of specific and general factors underlying the making and execution of this foreign policy. In this sense the study hopes to make a modest contribution to the available literature on King Abdulaziz's foreign policy. IV Table of Contents Dedication I ...................................................................................................................... Acknowledgements II ....................................................................................................... Abstract III ........................................................................................................................ Table Contents IV of .................................................................................:...................... Introduction 1 .................................................................................................................... Chapter One Towards Statehood: The Rise Abdulaziz 5 : of ........................................... 1.1 The Early Life Abdulaziz Ibn Saud 5 of .................................................................. 1.2 Territorial Conquest Expansion 6 and ..................................................................... 1.2.1 The Conquest of Riyadh and the Consolidation of Sovereignty in Najd....... 6 1.2.2 Expansion into 7 al-Hasa .................................................................................. 1.2.3 Ibn Saud Conquers Asir 8 ................................................................................. 1.2.4 The Taking Hail North 10 of and the ................................................................ 1.2.5 The Conquest 11 of al-Hijaz ............................................................................. 1.2.6 Ibn Saud Jaizan 17 adds .................................................................................... 1.3 Transformation from Tribalism Towards a Sense of Community Under Ibn Saud's Leadership 18 ..................................................................................................... 1.4 The Middle East in International Relations from the End of the First World War 24 .................................................................................................................................. 1.5 Ibn Saud's Early International Relations 28 ............................................................ 1.5.1 Ibn Saud the Turks 28 and ................................................................................ 1.5.2 Ibn Saud the British 32 and ............................................................................... Chapter Two : International Relations and the Foreign Policy of New States: An the literature 41 evaluative review of ................................................................................ V 2.1 Types Newly Emerging States 42 of ....................................................................... 2.2 Problems Foreign Policy Confronting Newly Emerging States 43 of ..................... 2.2.1 Establishing New National Identity 43 a .......................................................... 2.2.2 Political Structure Foreign Policy Institutions 46 and ...................................... 2.2.3 Leadership 49 .................................................................................................... 2.2.4 Political Instability 52 ....................................................................................... 2.2.5 Economic Resources 55 .................................................................................... 2.2.6 The Colonial Legacy .................................................................................... 59 2.2.7 National Security ......................................................................................... 63 2.3 Specific Features of Foreign Policy-Making in Newly Emerging States: Lessons Implications and ....................................................................................................... 67 Chapter Three : The Genesis of Saudi Arabia's Foreign Policy Structure 72 ................... 3.1 The Role the Leader 72 of ....................................................................................... 3.2 King Abdulaziz's Counsellors ............................................................................ 75 3.3 The Foreign Ministry the Other Governmental Structures 78 and .......................... 3.3.1 The Establishment the Saudi Foreign Ministry 78 of ....................................... 3.3.2 Other Governmental Institutions 84 .................................................................. 3.4 Influence the Royal, Religious Tribal Establishments 87 of and ............................ 3.4.1 The Royal Establishment 87 ............................................................................