"ملف 61/11 V (D 95) مسائل متنوعة خاصة بالحجاز ونجد" [و‎‎١‎٧] (٥٣٠/٥٠)

Political Resident in the Persian Gulf to Secretary of State for the Colonies.—
_ (Communicated by Colonial Office, July 28.)
/v ' ^ |
(Confidential.)
THE Honourable the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf presents his
compliments to His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, London, and
has the honour to transmit to him a copy of the under-mentioned document.
2. Copy is being sent to the Government of India in the Foreign and
Political Department, Simla, and His Majesty's Minister, Jedda.
Bushire, June 29, 1932.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Political Agent, Bahrein, to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire.
(Confidential.)
Sir, Bahrein, June 26, 1932.
I HAVE, the honour to say that matters have apparently come to a head
between Ibn Saud and the powerful Qusaibi family. In a conversation with the
adviser before a third person, Abdulla Qusaibi, who is notoriously hot-headed,
stated all the brothers had combined and signed a letter to Ibn Saud saying that
they would not supply him with any goods on credit unless he made some arrange
ment for settling their outstanding debts, which amount to some 17 lakhs
of rupees. Abdulla Qusaibi expressed himself with unusual heat, and stated
that they had even given an ultimatum to their Royal master to the effect that, if
their demands were not met, they would remove their families from Nejd to
Bahrein and apply to be registered as Bahrein subjects.
2. I have little doubt that the situation is perfectly correctly described.
Abdul Aziz went to Jedda with the thinly-veiled intention of extracting some
money from Ibn Saud, and it is obvious from other information I have received
that he has completely failed. I have also noticed that the usual shipments on
behalf of His Majesty were not being made by the Qusaibis, but were being made
by other firms, and news has been received of a consignment of 17,000 bags of rice
due to be shipped shortly through Bahrein to the mainland under arrangements
to Haji Abdulla Zainal, the brother of Muhammad Ali Zainal, who was formerly
Kaimakam of Jedda. This consignment is to be paid for in instalments, though
it is very doubtful that they will be any more successful in extracting payment
than the all-powerful Qusaibis have found themselves to be.
3. The Qusaibis are undoubtedly pledged to the hilt with Ibn Saud and can
ill afford to break with him, for any repudiation or delay in settling his debt of
17 lakhs, coming on top of the sum they have lost in the insolvency of
Habib Rosenthal, may have a disastrous effect on them, and render it difficult for
them to pay the instalments due to pearl dealers in Bahrein. However foolish
Abdulla may be, Abdul Aziz, the senior partner and creator of the firm, has great
intelligence, and I do not doubt that he will find some means of bringing Ibn Saud
to terms, even though it may take time, though his task will be facilitated when
the firms who are taking their place discover the difficulty in obtaining payment
from their august client.
I have, &c.
C. G. PRIOR,
Political A gent, Bahrein.
[516 ee—11
- Copy forwarded to G.O.under P.L.25,d/29/6/52
Jedda w 438- s
Kuwait * * *