File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎156v] (317/898)

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no time for the Yemenis. The Italian consul was granted an audience in the coil )
of which not only Italian recognition, but also Temen relations with Nejd, were
discussed. Little progress was made with regard to recognition Ibn Sand main
taining the position that recognition must be unconditional, t e I alian consul
seeking for a formula whereby Italy may recognise Ibn Saud without offending the
Imam. Speaking of his relations with the Yemen, the King stated that he desired
to be on friendly terms with the Imam. He had not the intention imputed to hijg,
of annexing Hodeida, which he recognised as being indispensable to the Yeme.;
Medi, on the other hand, he did not regard as be ongmg to the Yemen. It is most
improbable that the Imam’s mission will accomplish anything or that it will even
pave the way for a definite understanding, but the continual exchange of
complimentary missions has perhaps served to prevent active hostilities.
6. Another question which has been engaging the King s attention since his
return to the Heiaz is that of the concession granted to the Red bea Petroleum
Company in the Farsan Islands. Ibn Saud has received and studied the report of his
delegate, Sherif Adnan, and also the letter embodying the considered views of the
company. He appears to have concluded that the best solution is to set aside the
present concession and draw up fresh terms which will not be open to
misinterpretation. A letter in this sense has been addressed by Dr. Damluji to the
company’s headquarters in Cairo, suggesting that delegates be sent to discuss the
terms with Ibn Saud in Jeddah. „ „ n ^ „ j £ mn nnn
7. The number of pilgrims from overseas fell short, as was feared, of 100,000;
but, owing to a larger Egyptian pilgrimage than had been hoped for, numbers reached
96,000. The total was thus less than last year’s (by some 40,000). How far this
decrease in numbers is due to alarmist reports in the British and Iraq press it is
difficult to say; but it may be stated confidently that the two categories of pilgrims
who were chiefly responsible for the decrease were not affected by rumours oi
disturbances. The comparatively small size of the Javanese and Malay pilgrimage
(roughly 26,000 less than last year) is recognised as being due to the state of the
rubber market and the resultant lack of funds of prospective Hajis. Intending
Indian pilgrims may have been deterred by alarmist reports from undertaking
the Haj this year; their numbers show a decrease on last year’s total of
roughly 14,000.
8. The number of North African pilgrims was again small. This is as well,
as more trouble has been caused by a handful of truculent Tunisians and Algerians
than by the thousands of Javanese. The fault lies largely with the authorities m
Tunis, who appear light-heartedly to have handed over some 700 of their pilgrims
to a vague Italian whose commercial notepaper blazons to the world the proud fact
that he is a company with a capital of 30,000 fr. This individual chartered the
steamship “Maltana, ” a small cargo boat flying the British flag. In order to attract
passengers he issued tickets at an absurdly low rate, carefully hiding from the
pilgrims the information that canal dues and quarantine dues were not included^
On arrival at Jeddah the pilgrims refused to pay, while the local authorities refused
to allow the pilgrims to disembark until the charterer, who was on hoard, or the
captain had handed over the amount of the dues. The charterer professed to have
no money either in Jeddah or in Tunis. Eventually, after forty-eight hours
wrangling, during which time the charterer rightly went in fear of his life, the
pilgrims were induced to pay, as therein lay their only hope of being allowed to land.
As the “Maltana” sails under the British flag, this agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. was dragged into
the dispute.
9. It was a disappointment to hear early in the season that, in spite of the very
strongly worded protests of all holders of this post against the gross mismanagement
of the pilgrim trafficby Messrs. Nemazee’s, this incompetent firm was still carrying on.
The worst fears were justified. It was learnt that Nemazee was bankrupt, and tha
one of his ships was seized in India. Messrs. Turner Morrison, whose tickets ana
those of Nemazee’s were issued as interchangeable, repudiated the arrangement from
the 2nd May, and are endeavouring to make the effect of their repudiation
retroactive. The ships appear to have passed out of Nemazee’s control into thato
Shirazi, a tea merchant. When this news was received one of the ships had beenu 1
port for some seven weeks, had few stores left, little coal and no money. Anotner,
which had proceeded to Port Sudan to coal, had no money to pay and no credit, an
was detained there. The third ship had insufficient coal with which to proceed
Bombay. The masters of the ships are now in communication with the new oWI \ er t ’
and it is hoped that they will be in a position to embark pilgrims and proceed