![Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.' [‎335v] (681/914)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000271/IOR_L_PS_12_2087_0681.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.' [‎335v] (681/914)")
Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.' [335v] (681/914)
The record is made up of 1 volume (453 folios). It was created in 7 Sep 1927-10 Jan 1935. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
2
a green panel high in the wall behind the King, embroidered with the Moslem
profession of faith and a hefty sword underneath.
5. After the audience Sheikh Fuad Hamza asked whether I had any objection
to a photograph being taken. On my acquiescing an Egyptian photographer from
Cairo, who works for the c ‘ Graphic ” and other papers, took several pictures. In
the meantime the King himself had, apparently at the suggestion of some of hfff
officers, intimated his willingness to be photographed also, and a final photograph
was taken, in which he occupied the centre of the group with myself on his right. I
then again took leave of him and left the Palace with the same ceremony as when I
arrived.
6. I have ventured to describe these proceedings at some length, as it was the
first occasion on which a British Minister presented credentials, although Mr. Bond
and previous agents have of course been frequently received by King Ibn Saud. I
enclose a copy of my speech* together with the English version* of that read on
behalf of the King. It may be useful for record if I enclose also a note on certain
matters of ceremonial which I had discussed with Fuad Hamza.* Later in the
morning of the audience I visited the latter in the manner described in my note. We
had a cordial conversation on things in general and the system of examination for
the British Diplomatic and Consular Services in particular. He took an oppor
tunity of drawing my attention to the extremely democratic ways of his Sovereign,
who did not lay the same stress on punctilio as other rulers. This remark was
possibly intended to explain away any departures made by an inexperienced Court
from consecrated practice.
7. Following what is I understand a usual practice, Sheikh Fuad Hamza enter
tained me at dinner on the evening of the 17th May at the local office of the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs. The company of fourteen included the leading local notables,
Hafiz Wahba, and the principal members of my staff besides Mr. Taylor, Messrs!
Gellatly Hankey’s manager, and Mr. Philby. Water was served copiously, first,
Vichy, and, when that ran out, the product of the Jedda condenser. It was
intimated to me after dinner that cigarettes would not be handed round, but that I
was free to smoke my own. I refrained from doing so.
8- Saud left Jedda on the evening of the 17th May. His destination was
TaH, where, it appears, the Heir Apparent, Emir Saud, is to be operated on for eye
trouble by an Egyptian surgeon. This has led to the cancellation of a visit by the
Emir baud to Jedda, which was planned for the 19th May, and during which I was
to meet the prince at another party of Fuad Hamza’s. Fuad Hamza, himself, is also
returning to Mecca to-day. In these circumstances, I cannot hope to do any personal
business with either him or the King before the 25th May, but I have'reason to
that day nat W1 ^ ec ^ a a g a i n i n the course of the week beginning on
9. I am sending a copy of this despatch and its enclosures to His Maiesty’s
RefMen™e Pe e rsian 0 Gulf aq ^ PaleStine t0 ^ H “ able the Polltieal
I have, &c.
ANDREW RYAN.
* Not printed.
About this item
- Content
This volume concerns relations between the British Government and the Government of the Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia).
The volume largely consists of copies of Foreign Office and Colonial Office correspondence. The correspondence near the beginning of the volume discusses Ibn Saud's [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd's] wish to enter into full diplomatic relations with the British Government. The Hejazi Government's proposal in 1929 to establish a legation in London is accompanied by a request for the British Government to raise the status of its Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and Consulate in Jedda to the same status.
The subsequent correspondence in the volume discusses the following:
- The British Government's consideration (and acceptance) of Ibn Saud's proposal, and the appointment of Sir Andrew Ryan as His Majesty's Minister at the British Legation in Jedda in May 1930.
- Hafiz Wahba's appointment as Hejazi Minister in London in 1930.
- Complaints made by the Hejazi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarding Sir Andrew Ryan's attitude and conduct since his arrival in Jedda.
- Details of an Hejazi-Nejdi diplomatic mission to Europe (including visits to Italy, France, Britain, and the Netherlands), undertaken in May 1932 and headed by Amir Feisal [Fayṣal bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd], Hejazi Minister for Foreign Affairs (this part of the volume includes detailed accounts of the mission's meetings with Foreign Office officials during its visit to London).
- Sir Andrew Ryan's account of his meeting with Ibn Saud at Taif in July 1934, and their discussion of the 'blue line' (the frontier which marked the Ottoman Government's renunciation of its claims to Bahrain and Qatar, in the Anglo-Ottoman convention of 1913) and the Kuwait blockade.
- Details of several meetings held at the Foreign Office between Fuad Bey Hamza (Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs for Saudi Arabia), Sir Andrew Ryan and George William Rendel (Head of the Foreign Office's Eastern Department), during September 1934, regarding the 'blue line', the Kuwait blockade, and the future of the Treaty of Jedda (the treaty signed between Britain and Ibn Saud in 1927).
- Requests from the Italian Government for information regarding Fuad Bey Hamza's visit to London.
The volume features the following principal correspondents: His Majesty's Agent and Consul at Jedda, a position that was raised to His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires to Jedda in late 1929 (Hugh Stonehewer Bird, William Linskill Bond, Cecil Gervase Hope Gill, and Albert Spencer Calvert successively); His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan); His Majesty's Ambassador in Rome (Ronald William Graham); Ibn Saud; Amir Faisal; officials of the Hejazi/Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs; officials of the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .
In addition to correspondence, the volume contains a copy of the minutes of a meeting of the Committee of Imperial Defence's Standing Official Sub-Committee for Questions Concerning the Middle East. The meeting, which took place in London on 8 November 1934, was primarily concerned with the settlement of the 'blue line' issue, the Saudi- 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 frontier, and the Kuwait blockade.
The volume includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (453 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 449; these numbers are written in pencil and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The front and back covers, along with the two leading and two ending flyleaves, have not been foliated.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.' [335v] (681/914), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2087, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100066378258.0x000052> [accessed 22 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100066378258.0x000052
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100066378258.0x000052">Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.' [‎335v] (681/914)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100066378258.0x000052"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000271/IOR_L_PS_12_2087_0681.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000271/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2087
- Title
- Coll 6/21(1) 'Hejaz-Nejd: Relations with H.M.G.: Hejaz Legation in London and British Minister in Jeddah.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:iv-v, 3r:78v, 80r:96v, 100r:151v, 153r:218v, 220r:227v, 229r:238v, 240r:240v, 242r:242v, 244r:247v, 249r:255v, 258r:286v, 288r:293v, 298r:316v, 320r:362v, 364r:366v, 370r:371v, 373r:406v, 409r:422v, 424r:426v, 428r:448v, v-r:vi-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence