Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954), Thursday 17 May 1934, page 2


King Of Arabia Does Not Want Conquest Of Yemen

LONDON,, May 16.-"I gave him plenty, of warning. . War was forced on me."' Tho 'collapse' of the Imam's army is divine judgment. The will of God alone determined the course of events"-These were among the dramatic statements Ibn Saud made to the "Daily Mail's" special repre-sentative, Mr. St. John Philby, an authority on Arabian affairs.

On the eve of the armistice between the Arabian King and thc imam of Yemen, Mr. Philby journeyed to Ibn Saud's marble summer palace in thc rugged Hedjez Range near Mecca.

"I did not desire territorial expan-sion or to conquer the Imam, whose attitude forced me to keep in the field for many months an army of 46,000," said Ibn Saud.

y "I am confident that my recently published Green Book, with full de

taila of correspondence, will vindicate my fffoits for peace. The war was purely an Arab affair.

"The sole possible basis of a lasting peace is the execution of my condi-tions in full. Therefore outside medi-ation is useless and unwelcome.

"I am absolutely convinced of the justice of my cause. I believe the Imam personally did not desire war but was forced into an uncompromis-ing attitude by sinister influences which latterly have become dominant

in his counsels."

Mr. Phlfby declares that Ibn Saud spoke simply and quietly with no trace of personal rancour, boasting or bravado. He is convinced that thc King sincerely desires peace and says he has seldom seen Ibn Saud in a more impressive mood in the 17 years he has known him.