Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎60v] (121/802)

the Amir Feisal and various high officials, and 20,000 fr. for the poor (the figures
given last month as the sums given in charity and the value of the presents were
perhaps exaggerated). The second reference reports a visit by the head of the
delegation and some of his companions to the office of the newspaper, and a
propaganda speech by the leader, in which he praised General Franco for the
facilities granted to the pilgrims, and Ibn Saud and the Saudi officials for their
kindness and hospitality. Little more was heard of these pilgrims, who were
treated in the same way as the Libyans by the Italian Legation and were shipped
off on the Maghrab-al-Aqsa, which had retreated to Massawa and waited there
until the last moment.
135. The “ Mission of Honour ” from Egypt departed amid a shower of
telegrams and other messages exchanged with the King and high Saudi officials.
According to one shocked observer, the chief result of the renewal of the despatch
of the Kiswa to Mecca was the appearance of some of the ladies of the mission
unveiled at Arafat, and even in the Holy Mosque at Mecca. This made the
judicious grieve (among them our informant), and turned the hearts of the less
judicious to smoking kebabs.
136. In accordance with the Saudi-Egyptian agreement about waqf
expenditure, it has been decided to distribute a sum of £E. 13,500 to the poor of
Mecca and Medina, and to spend the balance of £E. 15,000 on useful projects to
be decided upon by the two Governments.
137. The Afghan Minister left on the 18th March, having been at his post
about six weeks.
138. The Persian Minister and his clerk left on the 8 th March, having been
at their post about three weeks.
139. The Netherlands Charge d’Affaires went on leave on the 24th March
after nearly dying of blackwater fever.
IV.— Miscellaneous.
140. Messrs. Sharqieh (Limited), and the Ford Company, who, through
them, supply the cars for the public transport company, are well satisfied with
their season. Their satisfaction applies rather to the recovery of the price of
their cars than to improvements in transport from the point of view of the public,
though they consider that improvements have been effected. They hope to sell
300 to 350 vehicles next year, as against 168 this year and 250 in the best year
hitherto.
141. Captain Hunt (paragraph 44a), after being in the service of Sharqieh
(Limited) for about two months, left almost immediately after Mr. Philby’s return
to Jedda, claiming to have been misled about his position by Sharqieh’s agents in
London. Mr. Philby engaged in his place a young Frenchman (half English)
named Lefevre-Arnold, who happened to be in Jedda on behalf of M. Besse, of
Aden, but Mr. Arnold seems to have withdrawn almost immediately. With the
exception of an Indian manager who has struck to him for years, Mr. Philby’s
assistants do not stay with him long.
142. Health conditions in the Hejaz continued to be very good, and the
pilgrimage was declared to be “ clean ” by the Egyptian Quarantine Board. By
the end of the month the great majority of overseas pilgrims had left the country.
143. The chief complaint this year has been on the score of delay in the
supply of transport, especially for the journey from Mecca to Medina after the
Hajj. Since the transport was not sufficient to take all the pilgrims at once,
and since the bad state of the roads causes the journeys to take several times as
long as they would otherwise do, it is inevitable that some pilgrims should have
to wait considerable periods for their return. But there is strong belief that
the Indians were sacrificed this year to the Egyptians and the Moroccans, who
were given preferential treatment, though whether because they paid more, or
for political reasons, is not known. When asked by His Majesty’s Minister on
what system the motor transport was allotted, Fuad Bey admitted that it was a
mystery which he had never been able to fathom.
^ 144. The difficulties described in paragraph 116 of March 1936 have by
no means diminished. As the result of intrigues (though rudeness by the Indian
vice-consul to a pilgrim guide was later advanced as the pretext) the Jedda
wakils Elected representative or attorney, acting in legal matters such as contracting marriage, inheritance, or business; a high-ranking legal official; could also refer to a custodian or administrator. of the guides for Indian pilgrims suddenly ceased to come to the Legation
with the pilgrims’ passports to collect the embarkation tickets. It was supposed