Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎134r] (268/802)

3
Fuad Bey Hamza, regarding certain minor questions of interpretation. After
a further reference to His Majesty’s Government for instructions, the exchange
of notes took place, by Legation and Saudi notes, dated the 16th and 17th
November respectively.
* 371. The more sinister hypotheses that were built, in the local imagination, j
on the developments in regard to the Italian consignment of munitions of war, \
described at paragraph 342 of the last report, were not realised, for the Italian
mechanics returned to Jedda within a day or two and left for Massawa on the 4th.
It would appear that a demonstration of the capabilities of the munitions was ,
staged at Ashaira for the benefit of Sheikh Abdullah Suleiman and Saudi officers, j
who, it is stated, were well pleased with the performance of a fast light tank, apt
over any sort of rough going, a four-barrelled anti-aircraft gun, light field guns, I
and smaller arms. A less happy impression was created by the huge Fiat truck
and trailer, which spoiled the Roman triumph by experiencing considerable
difficulty over the rough going of the Saudi desert, and which, incidentally, is
now employed in Jedda busily carting stones, after rumours had been current
that it had been acquired by the Mecca Municipality as a refuse vehicle. The j
report of the imminent shipment of 1,000 camels from Yanbu, referred to in
last month s report, was premature. They were, indeed, assembled, but
remained, like Kipling’s camel, “ ’scruciating idle for nearly three weeks, until
finally shipped by the steamship Mouna on the 20th November. It is stated to
be strongly rumoured at Yanbu that no further shipments of camels will be
permitted.
372. h uad Bey Hamza informed Mr. Calvert on the 11 th November that a
communication had been received from the Co-ordination Committee of the
League of Nations by the Saudi Government, who had so far found themselves
unable to reply. Fuad Bey confessed himseli greatly perplexed by the situation,
which he described as one of great uncertainty. He expressed doubts as to
whether the Ethiopian mission, at present in this country (paragraph 345), would
receive much satisfaction from the Saudi Arab Government, and appeared
impressed by the strong protest recently addressed by Italy to Egypt. The
Ethiopian mission, indeed, in spite of the desire of Blata Ayeule Guebre to
conclude his affairs expeditiously and return to his own country, was still here
at the end of the month, awaiting Fuad Bey Hamza’s return from Riyadh. The
latter had seen Blata Ayeule Guebre twice before leaving for Rivadh, and Sheikh
Yusuf Yasin had given an official dinner-party in honour of the mission shortly
after its arrival here. The junior member of the mission, described as secretary,
is Seyyid Muhammad Mehdi. a young French-university-trained Moslem.
373. The Saut-al-Hejaz of the 26th November contained a communique,
received from the Italian Legation, announcing the withdrawal of lira bank-notes
for 1.000 and 500 lire.
374. The Italian Legation flew its national flag at half-mast on the 19th, /
20 th and 21 st November, presumably as an expression of Italian feeling at the *
imposition of sanctions.
375. The chancelier of the Italian legation, Dottore Mario Ardizzone
(paragraph 305 of report for September), left Jedda on the 29th November His
successor was expected to arrive on the 1 st December from Bagdad.
376. Other diplomatic moves during the month included the arrival of the
Afghan Minister, Muhammad Sadiq-el-Mujadadi Khan, and two secretaries
one named Abdel Rahman Raoufi, from Egypt. It would seem that the Afghan
Legation here is to be a more parmanent institution (the Minister brought a laroe
quantity of luggage with him), and that he has ceased to be accredited to Eo-ypt
as well as Saudi Arabia, the Afghan Legation in Cairo having been temporarily
closed. M. Ismailoff, secretary in the Soviet Legation, returned from five months’
leave about the 20 th.
IV .—M i serf la neons.
377. Mr. H. M. Eyres returned from leave on the 13th November.
378. Pilgrim ships have arrived fairly regularly during the month, chiefly
from Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies. Numbers of pilgrims are sh
far satisfactory, the total number ot Malay pilgrims registered in the Legation
at the end of November being 679, or 62* in excess of the total number from