"ملف 61/11 V (D 95) مسائل متنوعة خاصة بالحجاز ونجد" [و‎‎٣‎٩] (٥٣٠/٩٤)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OP HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
[E 3216/640/25] No. 1.
Sir A. Ryan to Sir John Simon.—(Received June 28.) v
(No. 236.)
Si r} Jetpia, June 7, 1932.
' I HAD the honour to report in my telegram No. 60 of the 30th May my
arrival in Jedda on that day. In view of the circumstances of my recent absence
it mav be worth while to give a short account of certain matters connected with
my return.
2. I reached Jedda in H.M.S. " Hastings " on the morning of the 30th May.
I was met on board by Hamdi Bey, the Director-General of Military Organi
sation, who had been sent from Mecca to present the King's compliments, and who
was accompanied by a junior officer. I was welcomed at the quay by the Governor
of Jedda in person, attended by all the principal local officials holding
subordinate posts.
3. As this was my first landing in Jedda from a warship since my first
arrival, I cannot be certain that the sending of Hamdi Bey to meet me was in the
nature of an extra courtesy, but I got the impression that the Hejazi Government
were anxious to show the maximum of politeness on this particular occasion. In
order to show my appreciation, I made the official announcement of my return
more than formal. I enclose a copy of my note to the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs and a translation of the Acting Minister's acknowledgment^ 1 )
4. Sheikh Yusuf Yasin arrived in Jedda on the evening of the 2nd June.
He visited me the next morning and expressed in the most cordial terms the
King's satisfaction and his own at my return in good health. He went on to
congratulate me on the anniversary of King George's birthday and delivered the
message embodied in my telegram No. 64 of the 3rd June.
5. Sheikh Yusuf Yasin came again in the afternoon to the reception held
by my wife and myself to celebrate His Majesty's birthday. The gathering of
Europeans, local notables, Indians, &c., was a large one for Jedda, and both
Sheikh Yusuf and the Governor were full of friendliness.
6. I am afraid that Sheikh Yusuf Yasin's journey from Taif to Jedda was
undertaken primarily with the object of pressing me in connexion with the Ibn
Rifada incident, which so unfortunately came to a head just before my return.
It is nevertheless gratifying to have evidence of so strong a desire on the part
of Ibn Saud and his Government to treat the episode arisiDg out of the Bakhit
case as dead and buried, at any rate for the time being. I think that their general
attitude has been a good deal affected for the better by the reception accorded to
the Amir Feisal's mission in London and more especially by the telegram
addressed by His Majesty the King to King Abdul Aziz on the occasion of its
departure.
7. I am doubtful as to how far the present atmosphere of affability can
be expected to survive future strains, but I need hardly say that on my own side
I have contributed my full quota to the flow of courtesy. There has been no
reference on either side to the Bakhit affair and its aftermath.
I have, &c.
ANDREW EYAN.
(') Not printed.
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