Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎376v] (753/802)

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has been many years in Jedda and at one time had the name of being an arden
Communist with influence in the Legation, left apparently for good in x ay.
Professor Moshkowsky, who acted as Legation doctor and is a skilled bactenologis ,
also left with his wife early in June.
United States of America.
52. The “ Umm-al-Qura ” announced early in May that the United btate^
Government had intimated their recognition of Ibn Saud through their
Ambassador and the King’s Minister in London. This was confirmed by a r oreign
Office despatch stating that on the 7th May a member of the United States
Embassy had called at the Department to say that the Embassy had notified their
recognition to Sheikh Hafiz Wahba on the 2nd May. The bearer of the message
did not know the intentions of the United States Government as to appointing a
representative in Hejaz-Nejd, but thought them unlikely to do so in the near
future.
A fghanistan.
53. The tea-cup storm over Amanullah Khan’s visit to the Hejaz (March-
April report, .paragraphs 46-8) was allayed by his departure for Italy on the
9th May in a Khedivial Line steamer proceeding to Suez. He visited Medina
early in May and on the 6th May returned to Jedda, where he was accommodated
in the King’s Palace. His own desire was to get away as soon as possible, but
he found himself blocked by difficulties in regard to shipping and quarantine.
He abandoned a project of going via the Sudan in order to avoid five days
quarantine at Suakin, but had to resign himself to the regulation three days
at Tor. The various other notable Afghans, who had congregated in the Hejaz,
gradually dispersed in different directions, including Nadir Khan’s mission which
sailed for India on the 7th May.
54. There was nothing in the final phase of King Amanullah’s adventure
to alter the appreciation in the first sentences of paragraph 48 of the report
for March-April. If, as is more than possible, he contemplates an attempt to
regain his throne, his demonstration of piety and his conversations in Mecca will
have been a useful prelude to an effort which must start from some different base.
His contacts here with persons other than Afghans and sympathetic Indians
presented no appearance of political importance. Ibn Saud honoured him, but
is unlikely to take a hand in Afghan affairs. The ex-King saw the Italian,
Turkish and Persian representatives in Jedda, and the Egyptian consul, who had
gone to Mecca on pilgrimage, saw him there. This intercourse with foreign
diplomats seems to have been confined to courtesies. It is not known whether the
Soviet Minister visited Amanullah Khan, but it seems probable that he did not.
IV.—Am Matters.
Hejaz Air Force.
55. After long pondering over the resignations of Messrs. Morris and North,
the Hejazi Government arranged, though without ever expressly accepting them,
that the aeroplanes, &c., should be taken over by a commission of military officers
and experts, the chief of whom was Mr. Lowe. The transfer was effected in
the latter part of May. Mr. Lowe flew at least twice in the following days, and
on the King's birthday saluted, from the air, the flag of the British Legation.
Shortly after he called for the first time on Sir Andrew and Lady Ryan and has
since visited the Legation several times. After the transfer he had to assist him
a German named Krakowsky, who had had flying experience in the past and has
eked out a hand-to-mouth existence in Jedda for some years; and also apparently
another German as mechanic. The latter left after a very short time.
M. Krakowsky remains, but is at loggerheads with Mr. Lowe, who has no faith
in him and says that the only real assistance he has is that of a Syrian.
56. The Hejazi Government had been informed early in May that His
Majesty’s Government were willing to help them to recruit new personnel for the
force (March-April report, paragraph 49), but considered the previous rates of
salary to be a minimum which might have to be exceeded, and that the removal of