"ملف 61/11 IV (D 77) مسائل متنوعة خاصة بالحجاز ونجد" [و‎‎٨‎٦] (٣٦٦/١٨١)

91
! (94)
{Received on 4th October 1931, with Political Secretary's letter No. P. Z.-
38, dated 11 th Seytemher 1931.)
End. in F. 0. covering letter, dated 11th September 1931.
D espatch from the F oreign O ffice, to H. M.' s C harge d'affaires,
J edda , N o . 360, dated the 10 th S eptember 1931.
With reference to my predecessor's despatch No. 308 of the 7th August
[S. No. (83)] I have to inform you that the Minister of the Hejaz-Nejd,
ao an interview with a member of this Department on the 4th September,
stated that Abdurrahman Qusaibi had failed to come to terms with any
British bank regarding the proposed establishment of a State Bank in the
Hejaz.
2. The Minister added that the Hejazi Government, in spite of his
explanations, refused to believe that His Majesty's Government were really,
as they had stated, powerless to influence the British banks, and had
apparently formed the opinion that His Majesty's Government were them
selves disinclined to support the proposal; he was doing his best to disabuse
his Government of this misconception.
3. Meanwhile, as he had spoken very frankly about the Hejazi Govern
ment s project in the first instance, he wished to state confidentially that he
had learnt unofficially that Abdurrahman Qusaibi had now proceeded to
Holland where a Dutch bank was showing great interest in the matter and
appeared ready to come to terms. In reply to a question, the Sheikh said
that he understood that it was proposed that a loan should be made to the
Hejazi Government secured on the receipts of the Jedda customs, and that
the Netherlands bank would probably be allowed to appoint an official in the
customs to safeguard their interests. No final agreement had yet been
reached, but it seemed probable that one would not be long delayed.
4. Sheikh Hafiz Wahba was informed that, as it had been impossible
for this country to furnish King Ibn Saud with the financial help and faci
lities he desired, His Majesty's Government could only welcome the fact
that the requisite assistance seemed likely to be forthcoming from another
quarter.