Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎150r] (300/802)

5
view of the unreasonableness of the Saudi attitude, to maintain pressure on the
Saudi Government. Acting under instructions, His Majesty s C barge d Affaires
addressed a note to the Minister for Foreign Affairs enquiring whether the Sauui
Government were in a position to state their view in the light of further conversa
tions which had taken place in London with Fuad Bey Hamza, who agreed to
refer the question again to his Government for their renewed consideration. On
the 27th August Sheikh Yusuf Yasin broached the subject orally with Mr. Calvert
in a lengthy statement, in which he asserted that Koweitis had no real desire
to terminate the present situation of a brisk and lucrative smuggling trade and
alleged that dues were officially levied at the gates of Koweit on goods it was
common knowledge were to be smuggled into Saudi Arabia. He outlined the
measures to prevent Koweiti smugglers from entering this country (see
paragraph 265 above), which would be contained in the Saudi note now on its way
to the Legation. After Mr. Calvert had emphatically restated the views already
expressed in writing, Sheikh Yusuf stated that he was authorised to discuss the
question further in a personal exchange of views. Mr. Calvert replied that he had
no instructions to discuss the question and suggested that it would be best to
await the Saudi note. He could give Sheikh Yusuf no encouragement that an
early reply could be expected.
*271. Sheikh Yusuf Yasin at the meeting of the 27th August referred to the
question of the proposed conference on the reconditioning of theJGejaz Railway
(reference paragraph 59 of the report for February). On the 15th August, the
Legation and the French consulate had addressed identic notes to the Saudi
Minister for Foreign Affairs in which they notifted their Governments acceptance
of the Saudi proposal for a technical conference on this question; took note of
Saudi reservations and restated their own; proposed an agenda; and suggested
that the proposed conference should assemble at Haifa on the 10th October next,
under the presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. of the chief Palestinian delegate. Sheikh Yusuf, after some
discussion of the agenda, informed His Majesty s C harge d Affaires that the
Saudi Government were prepared to agree to the proposals contained in the
identic note. A Saudi note to this effect would shortly be received.
272. (Reference paragraph 204.) The question of the Government of India
dispensaries also came up for discussion in the conversations with Sheikh Lusuf
Yasin of the 25th and 27th August. He was, of course, aware that the matter
had been discussed in London bv Sir Andrew Ryan with Fuad Bey Hamza, but
was firmly of the impression that draft Saudi regulations, intended for early
promulgation, were to be further considered by himself and His Majesty's Charge
d’Affaires, whereas Mr. Calvert was equally firmly of the impiession that Fuad
Bev, in London, had been strongly urged to defer promulgation until after
Sir Andrew had had an opportunity of further discussion of the issues involved
during his forthcoming visit to Riyadh—and that the matter had been left at that.
The apparent misunderstanding lias been reported to His Majesty's Government
but Sheikh Yusuf strongly represented the question as one for the unfettered
decision of the Saudi Government and declared that the promulgation of the
regulations could no longer be delayed . „ . , . , t}- jw
273. To complete the tale of the burden of affairs brought from Riyadh to
Jedda by this attorney-minded counsellor of Ibn baud, the questions of slavery,
the Bahrein Conference Agreement and Sir Andrew Ryan's visit to Riyadh were
mentioned, but more briefly and quite uncontentiously.
274. (Paragraph 238 of last report.) The names of the members of the
unofficial mission to various countries in connexion with the Haramayn Waqfs
were communicated by the Minister for Foreign A flairs on the 14th August.
They are the following four individuals :—
Sheikh Abdullah-ash-Shaibi,
Seyyid Muhammad Shata,
Sheikh Bakr Daghestani,
Seyyid Ubeyd Medani,
while Sheikh Yusuf Zeynal will accompany them as adviser. No exception can
be taken to any of these persons, all of whom are of highly respected families.
They have not'yet left this country, but further information as to the date of
departure and programme has been promised. On the 25th August, His
Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires drew Sheikh Yusuf Yasin’s attention orally to the
possibility that the arrival of this mission in India might be expected to arouse
some anti-Saudi agitation in Moslem circles in that country.