'File 11/44 Leading Personalities in Iraq, Iran & Saudi Arabia' [‎40v] (80/96)

Educated in the Hejaz and in Egypt. Associated
with his father, Hasan, and others in what was in
1917 the principal hide and skin business in Jedda
and Mecca. Impressed the Hejazis at that time by
his knowledge and European manners. Was made
Director of Education in Jedda, but was dismissed
and reverted to trade in cotton goods and skins.
Edited in 1925 the anti-Sa’udi paper Al-Umma in
Cairo with the help of one of the Dabbaghs. Given
a post by the Amir ’Abdullah as manager of his
estates in 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 in or before 1931. Was an
active supporter of the Hizb-al-Ahrar-al-Hijazi, and
was concerned in 1932 in the press propaganda and
financial arrangements of the outside promoters of
movements against Ibn Sa’ud. Seems to have gone
at least once to Eritrea in this connexion. Was
dismissed by the Amir ’Abdullah in the autumn of
1932 as a result of these political activities, but went
on with them. Excluded from Egypt, Palestine and
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 , whereupon he retired to Bagdad, where
he was understood to have become a private secre
tary to the late ex-King Ali. Returned to the Hejaz
with or at the same time as Ahmad-al-Mujallid in
July 1935, and was appointed in 1936 a member of
the Legislative Council. In 1938 did some propa
ganda for Ibn Saud in Egypt. Appointed Director-
General of Waqfs in December 1942 in succession to
Seyyid Abdul-Wahhab. Appointed president of the
Mecca Municipality in November 1945.
15. Muhammad Sa’id al Kurdi.
Formerly Director of Police in Jedda. Of Kurdish
origin, from Zakho. Was previously Director of
Police at Rabigh and gave offence to the legation by
trying to commandeer a car which was taking the
Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. of Bahawalpur to Medina. Was transferred
to Jedda in 1932 and confirmed in the post early in
1933. Was removed from his post in Jedda and
apparently reappointed to Rabigh in 1933. Officer
Commanding troops in Jedda in 1936, in which
capacity he was in charge of aviation during the
presence of the Italian Air Mission 1937-39.
According to a Russian pilot, showed ability and a
real desire to learn about aviation. Was cultivated
assiduously by the Italian pilot, probably received
bribes from him, and learned Italian. Very anti-
British when the Palestine trouble w T as at its height.
16. 'Ahdur-Rahman al-Bassdm.
Formerly Second Assistant in the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs. Educated in Egypt. Speaks
English. Helped Sheikh Yusuf Yasin with the
English versions of the Sa’udi-Koweit Agreements
signed at Jedda in April 1942.
17. AU Taha.
Assistant Governor of Jedda since 1928. A Hejazi
born about 1894. Rose from a small post as secre
tary to the Governor. Cadaverous and unhealthy.
Speaks Turkish well. Well meaning, and not with
out intelligence. Acted as Deputy Governor of
Jedda from April 1944 and showed himself helpful
and co-operative over routine matters with His
Majesty’s Legation. Has a working knowledge of
French. Reverted to his former post of Assistant
Governor on the appointment in April 1945 of a
new Governor, Abdurrahman Sidayri (q.v.).
18. Bujdd (or Humayd) Family.
A leading family in the notoriously fanatical
Ghutghut section of the ’Ateyba tribe.
For an account of individual members of the
family see Personalities Report for 1946.
19. Dahhdgh Family.
A Mecca family of “ Moorish ” (t.e., some North-
West Africa) origin. Appear to be Seyyids.
Became prominent in 1932 in connexion with plot
behind the revolt of Ibn Rifadah and the prepara
tions for the retarded revolt in ’Asir. The family is
numerous.
For an account of individual members of the
family see Personalities Report for 1946.
20. Dawish Family.
A leading family in the Mutayr tribe. Its best-
known member, Faysal ad-Dawish, famous as a
raider, as one of Ibn Sa’ud’s principal lieutenants
and as a rebel against him, died as a State prisoner ,
at Riyadh in October 1931. His name is, however,
still potent in Eastern Arabia, where he was regarded
as more than an ordinary sheykh—a kingly man
and a king maker. This gives importance to his *
sons, two of whom have figured in reports from
Kuwait.
(1) Bandar ibn Faysal ad-Dawish .—Said to be
looked to by the Mutayr as the leader they desire,
but to be himself very cautious and unwilling to
move at present. Reported in December 1932 to
have countered a question by Ibn Sa’ud as to whom
the Mutayr wanted for a leader by saying “ No one
but Your Majesty.”
(2) Al-Humaydi ibn Faysal ad Dawish .—Visited
Ibn Sa’ud at Riyadh in the autumn of 1932, when
the King was making efforts to reconcile the ex-rebel
Mutayr and ’Ajman, still hostile to him, and was
well received and rewarded.
The ladies of this family seem to count. Tne
political agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Kuwait, who had befriended them
when Faysal was surrendered to Ibn Sa’ud in
January 1930, was visited by various of them on
several occasions in 1932. They included Faysal’s
mother, who hid bitter hatred of the King beneath
copious praises; a sister, whose rumoured marriage
to a Harb Sheykh was regarded as an augury of
reconciliation between his tribe and the Mutayr, but
was afterwards denied; and a cousin, still a woman
of considerable charm and humour, who had been
married to Sheykh Mubarak of Kuwait, to a deceased
son of Faysal ad-Dawish and, lastly, as prize of war,
to Ibn Sa’ud’s brother ’Abdullah.
21. Fadhl (al-Fazal) Family.
Nejdis of Aneyza origin long settled in the Hejaz.
An original ’Abdullah had at least five sons, all now
deceased, with one possible exception. Each of these
had issue. Members of the first and second genera^
tions after the original ’Abdullah were concerned '
firms doing important business in the Hejaz and
India, where they had a high reputation, enhanced
by their position as business agents of Tbn Sa’ud,
until 1930. Family differences and bad trade led to
the collapse of their business at Bombay and
Karachi in that year. The two partners most actively
concerned in the business in India absconded to the
Hejaz, where a third tried to dissociate himself from
the partnership. The affairs of the family have for
some years been the subject of very complicated
litigation and have engaged the attention of various
British authorities for reasons too long to recapitu
late. The family still have influential connexions in
the Hejaz, and several members of it have been given
employment by Ibn Sa’ud. Apart from ’Abdullah
ibn Muhammad ibn ’Abdullah, who is the subject of
a separate notice, the following deserve mention : —
(1) Muhammad, son of the ’Abdullah just men
tioned. In business in Jedda and did a tidy trade
in grain. Disinherited by his father in 1943 as a
result of a quarrel. Died in 1946.
(2) Ibrahim ibn Abdurrahman. —One of the two
who absconded from India in 1930. Appointed a
member of the Legislative Council in October 1930.
Became later a secretary to the Amir Faysal. Was
called on to resign, ostensibly on grounds of ill-health,
by Amir Faysal. He is now living in Mecca and
engaged in trade in an unimportant way; but is still
said to enjoy the confidence of Amir Faysal.