Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎311r] (622/802)

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Finance.
118. The Hejazi Government made a further attempt in April to silence
the persistent loan rumour (paragraph 11) which the Arabic and Indian
vernacular press kept on repeating. They announced in the “ Umm-al-Qura
^ of the 15th April that the crisis in the Hejaz was only a part of the general
world depression ; they denied definitely that they had consulted the British or ,
any other Government about a loan, the rumoured conditions of which (appoint
ment of an Englishman to reorganise and control all finances, settlement of the
Hejaz Railway question and use of Hejaz-Nejd territory by British aircraft)
were such as the Government could never accept; they foretold a conference of
local financial experts, and offered to assist anyone who might wish to be
charitable to the Hejaz; they promised facilities to any Moslem, were he King, or
prince, or merchant, who wanted to give them a loan, provided that their rights,
religion and independence were not touched.
119. The financial position was unchanged. The Dutch adviser, M. van
Leeuwen, arrived at Jedda on the 23rd April on contract for a year
(paragraph 62).
Economic.
120. The pilgrimage, though very small, brought a little business and relief
to the town populations of the Hejaz. The Bedouin, however, continued in
miserable plight. As a result of the drought, the Northern Hejaz was said to be
entirely empty of tribes, who had moved in search of grazing either northward
into Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan or southward beyond Taima. Pilgrims to Medina were
frequently mobbed by starving nomads.
Chapter II .—Frontier Questions.
Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan .
Raiding.
121. There were no complaints during April of raiding from either side of
the frontier.
Frontier Meetings.
122. None are reported to have been held in April.
The Beni Atiya.
123. Under instructions from His Majesty's Government, His Majesty s
Charge d’Affaires on the 22nd April replied to the Hejazi Government’s note ot
the 0th March (paragraph 38) to the effect that the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan Government
regretted that they could not see their way to complying with the request tor the
return of the Beni Atiya to the Hejaz. It was pointed out that it had been in a
spirit of co-operation, however, and in order to minimise the risk of trouble
arising on the frontier, that the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan authorities had taken measures to
control these tribesmen as soon as they crossed the frontier and had sent t em o
the north of Maan.
Iraq.
124. Nil.
Koweit and Bahrein.
125. Nil.
A sir and
126. Ibn Sand sent a telegram of oonfidonoe to the Iman Yahya on the death
of his second son, Saif-al-Islam Muhammad, on the 22nd Apri .
Chapter III.—Foreign Relation*.
British Empire.
Hejaz-Nejd Mission to London.
127. Under circumstances which have already been recorded in para-
o-rauh 53 the Emir Feisal, accompanied by Fuad Bey Hamza, sailed from Jedda
on the 12th April to visit London and other capitals. A touching scene was
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