Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎69v] (139/802)

chief, M. Mujaddidi. It will be remembered (paragraph 192 of 1936) that
M. Mujaddidi was on very had terms with the Saudi authorities when he left,
and this fact, coupled with his long absence and his secretary’s ignorance of his
movements, led to a belief that he would not return. The belief was coupled with
hope, for by his rash quarrel about the house at Taif he may have queered the
pitch for other foreign representatives who might like to go to Taif sometimes
for a change of air. However, M. Mujaddidi returned on tne 31st January.
37. The Italian authorities in Eritrea, who make great difficulties about
admitting even Italians, have been so considerate as to find room at Massawa for
the notorious^ Afghan or Indian swindler, Ghulab Shah, who travels about under
the alias of Saiyid Ghalib with a young Damascene named Muhammad Fuad-al-
Abbasi who ran away from home with him. Ghulab Shah, who arrived in Jedda
recently with his companion, lived at his ease in a hotel without ever paying a
penny, and imposed on the Afghan Charge d’Affaires, from whom he
“borrowed" eleven pounds. The Saudi authorities ordered the pair to be
deported, and eventually placed them on board an Italian ship bound for Massawa.
The kindness of the Italians, which only the malicious could attribute to the
anti-British sentiments which Ghulab Shah is always prepared to admit, squares
with the report which was received some time before, that Ghulab Shah had
written to the ex-King Amanullah, asking him to obtain permission for him to
enter Italian territory.
38. In an earlier paragraph ( 11 ) it has been shown how the Arab Aviation
Society managed to refer to all the manifestations of Saudi activity in the sphere
of aviation without mentioning Italy. A similar reticence was noticed in a
verbatim report published in the l 1 mm-al-Qura of a lecture in Egypt given by a
Hejazi on the subject of progress in Saudi Arabia. The speaker said that two
missions had been sent abroad for training, one in aviation, the other in X-ray
work. It is expressly stated that the latter went to Egypt, but the account of
the aviation mission, which speaks at length of the prowess of the pilots, does
not mention Italy as the place of training.
39. In response to repeated requests from Mr. Twitched, of the Saudi
Arabian Mining Syndicate, that the State Department should appoint a repre
sentative at Jedda to safeguard American interests, the United States consul-
general in Alexandria, Mr. Morris, has been sent here to investigate and report.
Mr. Morris, who arrived on the 31st January, expects to stay about a week, and
to include a visit to the Cot-of-Gold mine in his enquiries.
40. Three Japanese who are believed to be connected with Japanese Moslem
intrigue are making the pilgrimage this year. Two or possibly all of them have
been here before.
41. Q. “ Has the Soviet Minister collected £30,000? ”
A. “ No, but the Albanian grandfather of the wife of the Viceroy has
sent 10 kilog. of dates to M. Stalin.”
This is not a model sentence for a new Ollendorf, but a plain statement of fact
M. KhakimofTs journey to Mecca (paragraph 426 of 1936) brought the payment
for Soviet oil products no nearer. Set a Wahabi to catch a Tartar.
1V .—M iscellaneous.
42. The French sloop, the d'Iberville, arrived on the 26th January and left
for Hodeida, with the French Minister, on the 28th January. The admiral was
on board.
43. Mr. Philby has extended his tour to the Farsan Islands. He may have
undertaken this journey to fill the time while waiting for cars from Jedda to
replace his foundered transport. His company sent one car from Jedda to meet
him, but it too broke down.
44. Mr. Lenahan, manager of ther* California Arabian Standard Oil
Company, returned from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. on the 27th January.
44a. Captain J. S. Hunt, I.A. (retired), formerly in the Albanian
gendarmerie, arrived on the 17th January to join Sharqieh (Limited).
45. Mr. Mudarris, of the Petroleum Development (Western Arabia)
(Limited), who was concerned in the negotiations by Avhich the concession was
secured, left on the 13th January. Mr. T. Hutton and Mr. F. A. Ball have
joined the staff.
46. Saudi Arabian Mining Syndicate. The Islamised Hollander,
M. van de Poll, who resigned recently, left on the 20th January, with Mr. Wells,