File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎279v] (563/898)

that area, Hassan to wit, and Ibn Sand s statement to them, as published in the
Mecca newspaper, is given in enclosure No. 1 to this report. ^ „
7. Mr. Philby’s activities continue, and he seems to lose no opportunity ot
creating difficulties for His Britannic Majesty’s Government. Whether he does this
in order to curry favour with the present authorities as a means of facilitating the
obtention of certain concessions or because he happens to be a disgruntled ex-officiaU
of His Majesty’s Government seeking revenge is uncertain and beside the point
the results are the same. . . in n • i ,
8. The Khudam-al-Haramain delegation, whose arrival I signalled m my last
report, have become very unpopular, and eventually Ibn Saud requested them to leave
the Hejaz This will undoubtedly come as a blow to the many Indian Moslems who
consider the Holy Land of Islam their own peculiar property. This delegation, upon
its arrival, refused the Boyal hospitality, stating that they could not recognise n
Saud in this country. Ibn Saud requested them first to examine the facts of the
matter before condemning him, and stated that he believed that with goodwill on each
side it would be possible to settle any points m dispute. Eventually the delegation
accepted the Sultan’s hospitality and proceeded to Mecca. During their stay m that
town they appear to have lost no opportunity of creating intrigues ag^nst the present
regime, and to that end appear to have expended the greater part of the 12 ; 000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
thlv were supposed to have brought with them from India for distribution amongst
the"poor of the Haramain. They also categorically ordered Ibn Saud to leave the
Hejaz with his army, but failed to state what precautions they were taking against
revolution and for the safety of the roads. . .c T +•' n
9. One Syed Taib Hazazi, who was a clerk m the Department of Justice, has
recently been appointed as Reis-el-Diwan to the Sultan. The appointment is
unfortunate as Hazazi, brought up under the Turkish regime, is thoroughly corrupt.
10. It would at present appear as if the persons who were prominent m t e
Shereefian regime are now obtaining many of the more lucrative posts m the new
Administration to the exclusion of certain Syrians and other foreigners so-called m
the Heiaz Although this can hardly be considered desirable from the point ot view
of the foreigners, I mean Christian Powers, it is perhaps the lesser evil, as these
people and their peculiarities are known factors, and relations can be established
accordingly, whereas such past masters in the art of administrations as, say, Dr. Ha i
Bev, must always remain an unknown quantity. ~ _o 01 nnn ,
° 11 The National Assembly has recently voted a further annuity of £21,009 to
the Sultan for the upkeep of the aeroplanes and the armoured cars and other technical
services. This now brings the amount voted to the Sultan to £221,000, or,
approximately, one-fifth of the revenue of the country. jjaanuae Wn
12 The concession for the motor service between Mecca and Jeddah has been
granted to Abdullah-al-Fadle in company with one Dehlavi, a prominent Mecca
merchant of Indian extraction, and one Aman, together with an Egyptian. Twenty-
five per cent, of the profits of this company go to the Government and the remainder is
for distribution amongst the shareholders
Abdullah-al-Fadle, the promotor of this company and one of the Ling s
favourite advisers, has also been appointed as the buying agent for the Hejaz, and au
Government purchases will in future be negotiated through him. As can readily be
imagined, this most lucrative post was eagerly sought after, and El Ladle ha^ no
doubt received it in recompense for his services to the Nejd cause during the late •
13. Recently the authorities published a list of fees chargeable to pi fT™ ^
This is a good step, and I understand taken by the Sultan in order to^preven
extortionate exactions of the mutawwifs (pilgrim guides) and local merchants
14 A National Committee of Relief has also been appointed m Mecca t
distribution of charities. So far their labours have been restricted to making rules
and regulations, as no charities have arrived to date, consequently they have n
come in for any criticism, as they are not for the moment prominent m the public eye^
15 His Highness the Sultan has finally decided to disallow the establishment of
anv banks in the Hejaz, as their procedure is against the Shara’s law He was
materiallv assisted in making the above declaration by the local merchants
petitioned him in this respect. These people make large sums yearly out ot tne
exchange of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. and Dutch guilders and the establishment of a banking House
would mitigate against the profitable business done in this respect.
16. From a religious point of view the Wahabis are becoming more exacting _
time goes on. In Mecca several regrettable incidents have occurred, o 116 ® W wac ,
endcd in the victim’s death. It appears that the victim, an Egyptian chauffeur, was