Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎88v] (177/802)

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the restoration of their confiscated property, the other reproduced a speecli made
at the opening of a new mosque, in which a Qadhi told of the deep affection in
which Moslems are held by the Italians. The Saut-ul-Hejaz is a dull rag, and
the editor may merely have welcomed fresh material for his scissors and paste;
but since the paper is closely controlled, and since the comments on Palestine
(see paragraph 339) have been a little stronger than they might have been,
is tempted to believe that the Italians are now requiring some return for free
aeroplanes and munitions and the training of Saudi “eagles.”
346. M. Adriaanse, the Netherlands Charge d’Affaires, who is now
accredited to the Iraq Government also and called at Bagdad, presumably to
present his credentials, on his way back from leave, is travelling from Bagdad
to Jedda by way of Bahrein, Hasa and Riyadh. By the end of the month he had
reached Hasa. It is assumed that he will be received by Ibn Saud in Riyadh.
347. The return from leave of the Turkish Charge d'Affaires, Celal Arat,
was expected, but on the 25th October an official from Angora, Muhammad
Muhiuddin R. Palsay, appeared without notice in his place. M. Palsay describes
himself on his card as “ Representant diplomatique de la Republique turque,”
but from the circular announcing his arrival he appears to bear the same title
as his predecessor, viz., Charge d’Affaires. He is extremely flowery and effusive
in conversation, but appears to be well-meaning. He adduces, as proof of pro-
British leanings, the fact that his only son has gone to study electrical engineering
in London.
348. Muhammad Ali Ridha, honorary consul for Czechoslovakia, returned
from a longish visit to Europe on the 12th October in good time to give a generous
if fly-blown tea-party on the national day of the country which he represents.
349. The French Minister, M. Maigret, departed for Syria on leave on 4he
7th October.
350. M. Ilario Marinangeli (paragraph 278, August 1935) is said to have
left during the month and to have been replaced by another Italian (civil) engineer
whose name, however, has not been reported.
IV .—M iacellaneous.
351. The first pilgrim ship of the season was the Blue Funnel steamer
Teucer, which arrived on the 19th October from Singapore with pilgrims from
Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies. By the end of the month the number
of pilgrims landed from British Malaya was 792. Pilgrims who have arrived
from or via India number about 254 up to the present.
352. The Jedda quarantine authorities, on the arrival of the first two
pilgrim ships of the season from Singapore, asserted that the International
Sanitary Convention of 1926 had been infringed in that infants under the age
of one had not been included in the computation of pilgrims and that every two
children from one to twelve years of age had been counted as one person. The
masters and the Jedda agents of the vessels pointed to Singapore legislation as
authorising this practice, but the quarantine authorities maintained that the
practice was ruled out by article 100 of the convention, which prescribes that
the accommodation on pilgrim ships is to be so much per person regardless of age,
though in fact it would seem that the penalties laid down in the convention in
article 157 are only applicable if masters of pilgrim ships contravene article 113 (1)
and bring more pilgrims than are specified in the certificates granted at the ports
of embarkation. The Saudi Arab Government are, of course, sensitive about
quarantine matters and might enjoy placing a European Government in the
pillory for infringing the convention, and the matter is being taken up with the
authorities at Singapore and with the Foreign Office. There is reason, however,
to connect the objections raised by the quarantine doctors with recent reductions
in pay and their failure to receive even the reduced pay on the appointed dates.
353. The Pilgrimage Propaganda Bureau whose creation was announced
last month (paragraph 324) has set up in separate premises opposite the Grand
Mosque at Mecca. The president is Sheikh Ibrahim Shura, an Egyptian who
was formerly Director of Education, and he is said to have several paid assistants
or agents. The bureau has just issued a long notice to pilgrim guides, officials,
merchants and the general public, telling them how to treat pilgrims. One of
its duties is believed to be to invite prominent foreign pilgrims to the bureau and
there to instil pro-Saudi propaganda into them as well as propaganda for the