File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎149r] (302/898)

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Stare o/hfs ^fienceSwasSSsibk toST In Vi6W ° f the reli S io ^
out to Ibn Saud that the irnDrisounient U „,| ivfS °f flclal protest, but it was pointed
sensibly affect His Maiestv's normlnrit • t . ot a religious leader migiu,
„.. °f the number of sS glg^SSerfSiSnS the S'* mig S reSult ln a ^mmution
litelit, ^etalt of this friendly intervention and nnss^Lf K Haj a ? xt o seas 0 11 - Possibly, as a
If sain, punishment had been meted out Maulvi M J ^ ecau ® e I bn Saud felt that sufficient
comfortable quarters and shorSv Sin 11 Ah “ e , d , was removed to more
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comfortable quarters and shortly released wf q A i d - Was removed to m ore
but admitted that in a final interview Ibn ’SmiH rT 7 b ^ tter , a S amst the King,
and had been at pains to show thnltfc p i r d l } st ? ned ^ him most patiently
With those of tlw^Sunnis^as^was^generall^believed^ Pe we re not as incompatible
b / Ne j<ns, ^saofszttjig
message from Hlfi^ Wahbf to tae reCeived a personal tele P ho uc
ss o ”i“r xsyviy/t* £ ■%&r r F 7 -
innumerable letters to test he ah^acy Hafif
font see he "fr^ 688 f no Hl COmmUmCations ' ho P ln K that the GovernmTnfwSid before
o g see the error of their ways. Towards the end of the month Dr Damlnii
informed Dr. Cesano that letters addressed bv him to the Government Wd
pure fictioif TIv f^r Hahf had heard to ^“ary w^
- A 1 , H fi Wah ba, who had been despatched to Medina on an
I ? 1SS1 ^ n 1 and had been out of touch with Mecca, visited the Egyptian consul
and confirmed his previous telephonic communication. It is thus quite dear that a
reversed. 11 etterS fr0m the three C0I1Suls was in effect tabei b but was later
T) 12 ' Q Th f ^Port and consumption of intoxicating liquor has, since the advent
of Ibn Saud, been strictly prohibited for Moslems. The prohibition to import
spirits, wines and beer has now been extended to Europeans. There are two posable
explanations of this action on the part of the Hejaz Government. It may have been
prompted by religious or by political considerations. To extend to foreigners any
privilege not extended to Hejazis may savour of “capitulations.” The reason
given oliicmily is that the special privilege accorded to foreigners to import liquor
tor their personal consumption had been abused. It was almost as easy to buy
whisky as to buy any other commodity in the market, and Moslems had been 'drinking
treeiy. It was obvious, therefore, that as Moslems could not themselves import,
certain Europeans were doing an illicit and most profitable trade in the sale of
liquor to natives. Prohibition is a heavy blow to members of the European
community. Apart from foreign representatives, to whom the prohibition does not
of course extend, Philby, who, by a happy coincidence, received a consignment
shortly before the introduction of the measure, can alone supply his friends with
their customary “ sundowner.” Prohibition will to a certain extent destroy the little
social life which Jeddah enjoyed. Conscientious members of the community,
fearing lest frequent visits to the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. may be regarded merely as indications of a
thirst, will stay away; officers of the mercantile marine, knowing that tepid
condenser water will be the only form of liquid refreshment available, will be less
ready to desert their ships. The more musical members of the Eurbpean community
now fear lest the prohibition to import gramophones may extend to their use. At
present Christians who own gramophones may play them, but may not replace them
when worn out. Moslems may neither import nor play.
13. The number of slaves manumitted during the month under review was
four. Of these, three were of Abyssinian origin and were repatriated via Massowa.
The fourth, of Sudanese origin, was sent to Port Sudan.