Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎143r] (286/802)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
I HAVE the honour to submit herewith the Jedda report for September 1935.
2. Copies have been distributed as in the case of the report for August 1935.
284. 1 he King welcomed the Amir Saud upon his arrival at Riyadh, where
the Crown Prince was given a warm reception, on the 1 st September, after an
absence of more than three months on his European journey. Subsequently, little
was heard of the royal movements, and, indeed, reports reached Jedda from Taif
that Ibn Saud, for a period, had been indisposed. The Amir Feisal left Taif for
Riyadh on the 23rd, after twice postponing his departure. The hardy rumour
that he is going there to be married again cropped up, whilst other sources stated
that a family conference, similar to one held before the Saudi—Yemen war, had
been convened to consider the position of this country vis-a-vis the Italo-Ethiopian
crisis.
285. Sheikh Yusuf Yasin, apart from two short visits to Taif, remained at
Jedda the whole of the month. He had numerous meetings with His Majesty’s
Charge d’Affaires, to which more detailed reference will be made later in this
report, and was seen in both the more and the less engaging moods of his Syrian
soul. He appeared to occupy the position of Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
in the continued absence of Fuad Bey Hamza in Syria.
286. Sheikh Abdullah Suleiman, during the month, moved on from Egypt
to Syria. A report in the Saut-al-Hejaz lent some confirmation to reports of his
interest in the construction of pilgrim hotels and metalled roads in this country,
mentioned in paragraph 253 of the last report. His brother Hamad Suleiman
continued to act in his absence as Minister of Finance.
287. The internal situation remained generally tranquil. No further
reports of trouble in Najran were received, so that the position there would appear
to have been effectively stabilised. Troops, however, were moved south into the
Asir Tihama, a mixed force, with supplies, leaving Jedda by the Saudi vessel
Al Fath on the 13th for Jizan, or according to one report, for Qunfidha. The
Saudi soldiers spent several days in Jedda before their departure, and their new
khaki uniforms, of an unfortunate shade of green, attracted some attention. No
further contingents are known to have followed, and undue significance is not at
present attached to this movement of Saudi forces.
288. The appointments were announced during the month of Sheikh Ahmad-
al-Haya as Amir of Turaba in the room of Ibrahim-an-Neshmi, the veteran Saudi
soldier, who was appointed Amir of Najran. and left shortly after for his new
post. Tahsin Bey, formerly commandant of police in Jedda, was appointed head
of the administration of the Ministry of Defence.
EASTERN (Arabia).
October 14. 1935.-;
—
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 2.
[E 6152/557/25J
Mr. Calvert to Sir Samuel Hoare.—(Received October 14.)
(No. 270. Confidential.)
Sir,
Jedda, October 1 , 1935.
I have, &c.
A. S. CALVERT.
Enclosure.
Jedda Report for September 1935.
I .—Internal Affairs.
B