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this reply to the Foreign Office on the 28th June (after an accidental delay due to
to staff changes) Sir A. Ryan surmised that Ibn Saud might have in mind a
financial deal and inquired what the attitude of His Majesty’s Government would
he, if that proved to he the case.
Alleged Violation of Nejd Territory by British Aircraft. —
61. On the 21st May the Minister for Foreign Affairs wrote a note
protesting against an alleged violation of Nejd territory by British aircraft,
which were said to have hovered over Jinna Island and Jubail between the 15th
and 18th May. His language suggested that such violations were persistent. It
was important to dispose quickly of this complaint as the Legation was just about
to reopen the question of landing grounds (paragraph 60). Fortunately, the
competent British authorities had no difficulty in refuting the specific accusation.
They gave particulars of two specific flights at about the time of the alleged
violation, neither of which could have given rise to the complaint, although there
w T as a possibility in one of them of a flying boat having approached to within
2h miles of the coast at Abu Ali Island owing to an accident. When informing
the Hejazi Government of the fact on the 2nd June, the Legation suggested that,
in order to facilitate the investigation of such complaints, local authorities should
be directed to supply full particulars and took exception in polite terms to the
allegation that British aircraft persistently violated Nejd territory. The
Minister for Foreign Affairs did not revert to the matter up to the end of June.
V.— Military Matters.
General.
62. There have been many rumours of troop movements, especially
movements into the Northern area, with a view to strengthening Ibn Saud’s
position there, even at the cost of reducing the forces in Asir (see paragraph 36).
These reports cannot be verified. It is also stated that, before the King left
Mecca, all the military supplies there were removed to Riadh.
Regular Army.
63. Faudhi Bey Kawokji (January-February report, paragraph 47), the
Director-General of Military Organisation, resigned, or was dismissed—it is not
clear which—about the middle of May. Conflicting stories were current. He
had resigned because of inability to get his proposals adopted and because of
undue interference—the Director-General of Finance had shifted half his little
army without consulting him. He had been dismissed because he had been
promised a cool million (pounds, not riyals) by the Soviets to promote a Shereefian
restoration; or because he had suspect correspondence with Syria; or because
he had written to a Turkish lady, to whose hand he aspired, that he had become a
Minister of War at 35, and would end up as a King. Anyhow, he went, and was
replaced by a certain Ilamdi Bey, previously commander of the Jedda garrison.
This person has a known capacity for intrigue and some unexplained pull in
high quarters. He is a Kurd of sorts, and is understood to have risen from the
ranks to the post of lieutenant in the Turkish army. He would probably be a
stout fellow in a scrap, but has obviously neither the knowledge nor the
experience for organisation. There has been less drilling within the sight of the
Legation since he took over. It may be doubted whether the regular army will
survive this change and financial stress—especially if the ulema of Nejd
disapprove of it (see paragraph 21).
VI.— Naval Matters.
64. ILM.S. “Dahlia” (March-April report, paragraph 53) remained in
Jedda until the 1st May. There were no naval visits, British or other, during the
remainder of the period under review.