Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎33v] (67/802)

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Friends of the Hejaz (paragraph 205), that one of the Hejazi students in Egypt
was found to be in communication with Salama Musa with a view to the ventila
tion of Hejazi grievances. It is stated that this young man was recalled,
discovered very conveniently in the act of writing incriminating letters, and
imprisoned. ^
241. According to the Umm-al-Qura, its article attacking the use in the w v
Hejaz, in connexion with marriage ceremonies, of customs which are not
sanctioned by religion (paragraph 216) has met with general approval, and an
official committee has asked that a degree should be issued abolishing all such
customs. Praise is given to Italy and those other European countries who are
trying to encourage the admirable social institution of marriage. No one can deny
(though the newspapers do not use this argument) that in Saudi Arabia the ruler
of the country sets a good example in the matter of contracting marriages and
founding families.
242. The aviation oil (paragraph 209) does not seem to have been ordered,
and there is cause to believe that this is a device to squeeze out the Italian air
mission. At any rate, the only machine that has been up—and that at rare
intervals—for some weeks is the Bellanca, for which there is still left a little of
the oil that was handed over with her by the Saudi Arabian Mining Syndicate.
It is reported by a member of the syndicate that, at the time of handing over, their
excellent pilot took up first Lieutenant-Colonel Ciancio, the head of the Italian
mission, and then the Russian refugee, M. Naidyonoff, to show them how to fly it,
and that whereas M. Naidyonoff flew the machine quite easily, with a few instruc
tions, and made a perfect landing, Colonel Ciancio was too nervous to do more
than fly straight ahead and was not allowed by the American pilot to make the
landing. In any case, it is always M. Naidyonoff who flies the Bellanca. The
Italians are deliberately neglected by the Saudi authorities to such an extent that,
although their quarters are 2 miles from Jedda, no transport is ever given them.
Colonel Ciancio seems to feel that he may not be here long, and has been heard to
say that he wished he could get away,
243. The spare parts for the Wapitis have arrived, and M. Naidyonoff and
his two Russian mechanics (a second arrived recently) have begun the work of
putting them in order. The work has, however, been interrupted by the Minister
of Finance (Deputy Minister of Defence), who has taken away the mechanics to fit
the engine of one of the discarded De Havilland aeroplanes into a motor boat.
244. When the Saudi aviators were christened “ eagles,” Mr. Philby cruelly
suggested that the meaning of the word (“ nasr ”) was vulture rather than eagle
In his famous Arabic grammar Wright uses the word in a quotation which he
translates : “ The kite in our country becomes a vulture,” i.e., our geese are all
swans. Vulture or eagle, the proverb seems to fit the case.
245. In a paragraph about the Saudi Arabian Mining Syndicate, the Daily
Telegraph says : “ Water supply difficulties are now believed to have been over
come, and it is therefore probable that the directors of the syndicate will shortly
proceed with the formation of an operating company.” Information to this effect
was received early in June, when Mr. Park, who represents the interests of the
prospective operating company, left for England. It is not known how near the
water is that has been discovered and to what extent pumping will reduce the
profits.
246. A local newspaper tells the Hejazis that the wretched state of the
country is due to the lack of enterprise of their predecessors, who preferred to
live on charity and legacies rather than to develop the land they lived in. The
article states that there are many fertile, well-watered valleys only waiting for
the application of brains to bring in a rich return. The reply to this is that
capital as well as brains is required, and that, in the absence of communications,
the increased produce could not be disposed of to advantage.
247. According to an Egyptian newspaper, the Government of Egypt are
lending the Saudi Government a date expert, with an overseer, to advise on the
improvement of the cultivation of dates in Nejd. The travelling expenses of these
two men to Saudi Arabia are to be paid by the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture.
248. The voluntary subscription contribution of one month’s pay to the
Defence Fund by the employees of certain departments (paragraph 161) resolves
itself into the definitive retention of the arrears of pay of all officials for the month
of DhuT Hijja (mid-February to mid-March). It appears that this has been
effected on orders by the Minister of Finance in the face of opposition by the
Amir Feisal, who had issued instructions that the pay should not be withheld