Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎139v] (279/802)

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rumours of the embarkation of about 1,000 at Yanbu on the 29th are current.
It is of interest to note, however, that one fairly good source, as this report
is being penned, states that orders have been issued cancelling this shipment of
camels. Whether true or not, it would seem fairly certain that Saudi official
circles are at present the prey of very divided counsels. Meanwhile, the Saudi
Government have caused to appear in the Egyptian news-sheet, the A hram, a
positive statement of this country’s strict neutrality, attributed to an anonymous
but well informed source in Mecca. Sheikh Yusuf foreshadowed a declaration
of this nature in conversation with Mr. Calvert on the 6 th October, and may be
presumed to be the father of this declaration.
344. Popular sympathy locally with Abyssinia is stated to have become
vocal on occasion, notably when a crowd listening to a wireless amplification of
news of the course of hostilities in Abyssinia could not forbear to cheer the
reports of Abyssinian successes. The Italian Charge d’Affaires was thereupon
moved to protest to the Saudi Government against this demonstration as contrary
to the friendly relations subsisting between the two countries, Saudi Arabia and
Italy, with the result that the headmen of quarters received orders to prevent
\ any similar occurrence in future. Official frowns, moreover, have been directed
. at some of the younger boys of Jedda who, having discovered an exciting new
game involving desperate encounters between Abyssinians and Italians, had
turned the streets of Jedda into an Ethiopian battlefield. All might have been
well if the principal rule of the game had not been that the Abyssinians always
won, but this was too much, it was stated, for the Italian Charge d’Affaires, who
again appealed to the authorities and sanctions were applied.
345. In view of the statement of Sheikh Yusuf Yasin on the 25th August,
recorded at paragraph 268 of the report for that month, that the treaty negotia
tions with Abyssinia were being suspended, it was surprising to learn on the
30th October of the arrival of an Abyssinian mission in Jedda. The mission,
headed by Blata Ayeule Guebre, has been in the Yemen for the exchange of
ratifications of the recently negotiated Yemen-Ethiopian Treaty and has come
overland to Taif. Their presence was reported by the Umm-al-Qura of the
31st October. They are being accommodated for the time being at the Kandara
Palace, as the guests of the Government.
346. The proposal of the Saudi Government, recorded at paragraph 306 of
the report for June, for a postal service between Jizan and Kamaran, has met
with the approval of the Posts and Telegraphs Department of the Government
of India, and on the 31st October His Majesty’s Charge d'Affaires addressed
the Saudi Government putting forward certain conditions on which such a
service might be established.
347. As already described M. Maigret left on the 5th October to attend
the Hejaz Railway Conference at Haifa, and was still away at the end of the
month. The official stationery of the French mission here now bears the device
"‘Legation de France,” although no official announcement of the change of status
has yet appeared. The Netherlands Charge returned from leave on the
27th October. The Turkish Legation has now taken to flying the Turkish
national flag on Sundays instead of on Fridays as heretofore, and the Charge
has taken unto himself a surname nouveau style.
348. The Egyptian consul has now completed the distribution of Egyptian
charity (reference paragraph 242) to the poor of Medina, who have each received
a quantity of wheat and a small sum in cash.
IV.— Miscellaneous.
349. The first pilgrim ship of the season, to anticipate the report for next
month, arrived on the morning of the 1 st November. She was the Teiresias
from the Netherlands East Indies and the Straits Settlements, with 558 pilgrims
on board.
350. A new Italian doctor Mario Fea arrived in Jedda about the
10th October.
351. (Reference paragraph 309). It has now been learnt that Signor Caro
Caglieri has left the country.
352. Government administrations during the month have packed up and
returned from Taif to Mecca. Rains are reported from both Taif and Medina.