King Husein, the King of the Hejaz, has abdicated, and
his son, the Sherif Ali, Emir of Medina, has suc- ceeded him. The Wahabis who were threatening ilusein's capital, the Holy City of Mecca, had apparently made no movement for several days, but King Husein gave up the game rather because of what he feared than because of anything that had actually happened. His son is described in the official proclamation of his succession as "Constitutional King of the Hejaz." Husein, when he became King in 1917, described himself as King of the Arab peoples, and ever since then the title had been an offence to the numerous tribes over whom he had no sort of control. The British Government of the day wisely said that they would recognize him as King of the Hejaz but not as King of any other territory. The limited claim of the new ruler may possibly appease the Wahabis and other enemies of the Hejaz monarchy. * * * *
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