ABSTRACT
’Abd al-’Aziz’s vociferous supporters in India, particularly Muhammad and Shawkat ‘Ali of the Khilafat Congress, Ameen Rihani branded as unreliable. In a flush of enthusiasm, Rihani wrote a long letter to ‘Abd al-’Aziz to broach the subject. Arriving in Jidda on November 6, just over a month after ‘Ali’s nominal takeover, Rihani found a badly confused situation. Sharif Husayn, ever the royal kibitzer, was in exile near Aqaba, but was constantly bombarding his son and successor with gratuitous advice. Jiddawis were divided among themselves, as the National Party, which had forced Husayn’s departure, collapsed because of disagreement on objectives. By then, Rihani had lost all confidence in his Iraqi confrere, fearing that Sayyid Talib’s personal ambitions and propensity for intrigue would undermine the high cause that Rihani had set for himself. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, ‘Ali noted, had been actively recruiting among the Hijazi tribes and appeared to be preparing to move on Jidda.
