File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎289r] (586/834)

HEJAZ SUPPLIES AND SUBSIDY.
Although our future relation to the financial and other
economic problems of Hejaz cannot yet be settled, some progress
has been made in outlining an interim policy to be followed in
regard to supplies and subsidy as soon as the state of war has
definitely ceased there and peace requirements can be estimated.
In conversation with Lieut.-Col. Wilson in November last,
King Husein readily agreed that the food supplies sent monthly
to Hejaz for more than two years past should cease altogether
“a month or two” after the fall of Medina. He recognized
that they have been given for purely military purposes and
will be out of place under peace conditions. He asked only
that sufficient tonnage should be detailed by India to supply their
equivalent in the ordinary way of trade. Cargo space will be
required for 1,300 to 1,500 tons per mensem, over and above
what the trading ships, which now habitually call at Jiddah, can
furnish. If India can arrange for another monthly ship of this
capacity, various beneficial results may be expected. The Hejazis
having to buy their own necessaries of life would disgorge gold :
the King’s customs receipts would once more supply him with a
considerable revenue outside subsidy, and Jiddah trade and the
commercial spirit throughout the country would be encouraged.
It will be well also, in order to promote the same ends, to favour
the shipment of other commodities, of which Hejaz has need and
has been deprived during the war, notably wood for construction.
The richer townspeople have long been demanding it both for
repairs and for building new houses ; and there is no doubt a
substantial proportion of the gold which has been poured in by us
as subsidy, will flow out again as soon as this and other costly
materials can be put on the Hejaz markets.
The commodities, which hitherto we have been giving gratis
to Hejaz, used, at their maximum, to amount monthly to 1,531
tons, 5 cwts. sent to southern ports and 1,913 tons sent to Akaba
i. e . a total per mensem of 3,444 tons, 5 cwts. Of this total atta
(grain) was 920 tons : rice, 1,260 tons : coffee, 16 tons, 5 cwts :
sugar, 48 tons : barley, /2o tons and tibn (chopped straw),
475 tons. The rice and tibn all came from Egypt. Of the rest,
the proportion for southern ports came from India. Egypt
supplied Akaba altogether. At the present moment of the above
proportions only half is being shipped to Akaba, and two thirds
to southern ports or, roughly, just under 2,000 tons per mensem
to Hejaz as a whole. The Egyptian consignments have consti
tuted a heavy drain on local'resources, and it will be a great
relief to be able to discontinue them.
The subsidy question does not promise so speedy and satis
factory An East India Company trading post. a solution as that of food supply. While the King has
assured Lieut.-Col. Wilson that he contemplates a “ large reduc
tion ” in money grants after the fall of Medina,, it being his
intention to reduce Beduin allowances to the old standard of