It was now British policy to undermine the position of Turkey throughout the Middle East. The House of Saud was now recognized as a powerful factor in the British war against the Ottomans. Captain William Shakespear, the British political agent in Kuwait, was immediately despatched to Riyadh with instructions to enlist Ibn Saud's support for Britain - or at least to dissuade him from siding with the Turks.
Ibn Saud was extremely wary of entering into any commitments with Britain without adequate safeguards. He demanded a formal treaty between himself and the British Government in which his authority over the Nejd and al-Hasa would be formerly recognized by the British in return for his neutrality.