'File 61/11 IV (D 77) Hejaz-Nejd, Miscellaneous' [‎164r] (343/366)

Persian Legation is not effectively occupied. I much doubt whether M. Hoveida
will return. His health suffered here, and I rather think that he covets the post
of Persian representative at Cairo.
M. Hoveida did return in April 1931, but stayed only until June, and did
not come hack again until the end of December. On this occasion, however, he
left a subordinate, who is also his sister's husband, in charge. During his stay
he gave one spectacular diplomatic dinner, after which he photographed the
company by incandescent lamplight. The result, though odd, was more successful
than might have been expected. I was, perhaps, too hard on him last year. At
any rate, his friendship towards us appears to be genuine.
Soviet Russia.
*M. Nezir (sometimes called Nezir Bey) Touracoulov, the only Minister
besides myself, presented letters before me, and is therefore doyen of the
Diplomatic Body. He comes from Turkestan, and is a round-headed young man
with distinctly Tartar features. He seems fairly intelligent, and has learnt
enough T rench and Arabic since he came here a couple of years ago to carry on
conversation in those languages. He usually talks Turkish, which he knows
better, on the comparatively rare occasions when we meet. He has a sound,
simple sense of humour and is an agreeable companion, but he goes little into
European society. I have never attempted to talk politics to him. On the
one occasion on which I had occasion to seek information from him on a non-
political matter connected with public health he was very helpful. He presents
no appearance of wishing to make a splash. He strikes me as a nice, straight-
torward person, rather more interested in commercial and economic subjects than
in others, and as being a genuine Moslem. If I am wrong and he is deep, then
he must be very deep indeed. M. Touracoulov is married to a Russian lady from
Samara. She is a professional doctor or nurse, and left Jedda before I arrived
in May to take charge of some sort of institution in Moscow. She has not
returned.
I continue to like M. Touracoulov, but doubt whether he is as simple or as
good a Moslem as I supposed. He had a burst of diplomatic activity in the
summer, when he went into the business of selling benzine to the Hejazi" Govern
ment, and perhaps attempted even greater things, with a view to bringing his
country into closer relations with the Hejaz. He went on long leave in October.
It is doubtful whether he will return.
Turkey.
Seni Bey left in July to take up an important post in the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs at Ankara. He was succeeded in July by Ahmed Lutfullah Bey.
The latter, had a small post at the Sublime Porte in the old days in Turkey and
is a favourable specimen of the type of official produced there. Before his
appointment in Jedda he had been employed at Ankara and in London, and
appears to have been favourably regarded by British colleagues. He speaks
French well and has some knowledge of English. He has varied interests. He
claims to be an authority on protocol (he has published a work in two volumes
on the subject), and he dabbles in the arts. He is amiable and talkative. In our
short acquaintance I have been unable to form any opinion of his capacity, but
should imagine that he is keener on his side-lines than on playing an active
diplomatic role. He is personally intimate w T ith the non-Moslem Russian who
acts as Soviet representative in the Minister's absence.
Lutfullah Bey is unmarried.
January 1932.