Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎200v] (401/802)

or two only of the sheikhs of quarters, Ibn Baud rather drastically dismissed the
lot. He also despatched a mission of enquiry to Lith to deal with complaints made
by the inhabitants against their Governor. A more important Special Com
mission, consisting of five members, appointed some months ago to inspect the
northern coastal area, from Rabigh to Dhiba, returned towards the end of the
month after an absence of two-and-a-half months on their mission.
191. The agreement concerning the importation of motor-cars, tyres, tubes,
accessories and spare parts between Mr. Philby’s firm, Sharqieh (Limited) and
the Saudi Government was published in the Umm-al-Qura of the 10th and
17th August. The agreement, which supersedes the previous one, is to run for
nine years. The company is to import Ford cars for the Government, Government
companies and private companies, but private individuals may still import for
their own use any make of car they please. The monopoly in the import of tyres
and tubes is again assured to the company. The agreement is a longer document
than its predecessor, and is more precise and detailed in regard to questions of
price and method of payment. It is generally more liberal in its terms, but it
still appears to contain provisions which may present some difficulty. Mr. Philby
was in Jedda from the 17th to the 30th August, when he returned to Taif.
192. Mr. K. S. Twitchell (see paragraph 151 of last month's report) has
been at Taif all the month, but appears to have made little progress towards
securing his concession. It is thought Mr. Twitchell has not produced the argu
ment that will always convince the Saudi Government—hard cash.
193. The second Wapiti aeroplane (see paragraph 152 of last month's
report) was flown up to Taif early in the month and landed there safely. No
further aerial activity has been observed in Jedda since.
194. During the month several fairly lengthy lists of foreign subjects who
have adopted Saudi nationality have been published in successive issues of the
Umm-al-Qura (see paragraph 153 {b) of the report for July).
195. Further instalments of the Coastguards Regulations, referred to at
paragraph 153 (c) of the report for last month, have appeared. This is now a
formidable document of eighty odd articles and an appendix.
196. The Umm-al-Qura of the 24th contained an official announcement that
the Government were prepared to grant a concession for the transport of mail
by motor-car between Mecca, Riyadh and Hasa, and between Mecca, Qasim, Hail
and Jauf. They were further prepared to grant a concession for the transport
of pilgrims to Mecca from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and to Mecca or Medina from
“neighbouring frontiers.” Tenders are invited, and should be presented within
fifteen days, on the basis of a bi-monthly service to Riyadh and Hasa, and a
monthly service to Jauf.
197. In July it was announced that the postage stamps then current would
be withdrawn, and a new set issued. There was some delay in carrying this out,
but most denominations of the new issue were on sale at the end of July. The
inscription “ Royaume de 1’Arabic Soudite” remains unchanged (see prefatory
note to the report for January).
198. Sheikh Muhammad Tawil, the Director of Customs in Hasa, who had
been on a visit to the Hejaz, left for Riyadh early in the month.
II .—Frontier Questions and Foreign Relations in Arabia.
199. The late theatre of war is quickly returning to the humdrum ways
of peace. The captains and kings have departed, further sundry contingents of
troops and quantities of supplies have arrived by sea from the south, and the
Mecca Saut-al-Hejaz proclaimed on the 6th that the tribes along the Saudi-Yemen
frontier had resumed their nomadic lives and the peaceful exchanges of commerce.
The same newspaper quoted reports from a source outside this country of anti-
Italian feeling in the Yemen, and on the 27th reproduced an official communique,
issued from Sana, protesting, perhaps a thought too indignantly, against the
wicked lies so maliciously invented. Relations with “Their beloved ally’’ were
the very pattern of their kind.
200. The expression of regret at the unintentional transgression by a desert
patrol of the Saudi- Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan frontier near Haditha, recorded in
paragraph 166 of the report for last month, evoked a somewhat acid acknowledg-