"ملف 61/11 V (D 95) مسائل متنوعة خاصة بالحجاز ونجد" [و‎‎١‎٩‎٠] (٥٣٠/٣٩٦)

15
35. Fadhl {al-Fazal) Family.
Nejdis of 'Aneyza origin long settled in the Hejaz. An original 'Abdullah
had at least five sons, all now deceased, with one possible exception. Each of
these had issue. Members of the first and second generations after the original
' Abdullah were concerned in firms doing important business in the Hejaz and
if]] India, where they had a high reputation, enhanced by their position as business
iemor agents of Ibn Sa'ud, until 1930. Family differences and bad trade led to the
J I; collapse of their business at Bombay and Karachi in that year. The two partners
nJ' most actively concerned in the business in India absconded to the Hejaz, where a
■Jg , third tried to dissociate himself from the partnership. The affairs of the family
ei J; have for some years been the subject of very complicated litigation and have
j engaged the attention of various British authorities for reasons too long to
recapitulate. The family still have influential connexions in the Hejaz, and
ttt several members of it have been given employment by Ibn Sa'ud. Apart from
: 'Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah, who is the subject of a separate notice,
6 the following deserve mention :—
altkif (1) Muhammad, son of the 'Abdullah just mentioned. In business in Jedda
luMl and does a tidy trade in benzine, &c.
(2) Ibrahim ibn A hdurrahmdn. —One of the two who absconded from India
in 1930. Appointed a member of the Legislative Council in October 1930.
Became later a secretary to the Amir Faysal. Was called on to resign, ostensibly
on grounds of ill-health, by Amir Faysal. He is now living in Mecca and engaged
lenfci in trade in an unimportant way; but is still said to enjoy the confidence of Amir
llej Faysal.
j^i (3) Muhammad ibn Abdurrahman ibn 'Abdullah. —Was a partner in the
firm which collapsed in India in 1930, but resided in Jedda and tried to dissociate
himself from the other partners, his brother and cousin.
(4) 'Abdullah ibn Ibrahim ibn 'Abdullah. —Private secretary to the Amir
Faysal in 1926. Afterwards one of the partners who absconded from India.
SaW Selected in 1931 for the post of Charge d'Affaires in Holland, under scheme which
vena did not materialise for having a Legation there with the Sa'udi Minister in
ibd London as Minister. Appointed Treasurer to the Government later in 1931, as a
ileaierl: result of the cabal against 'Abdullah Suleyman.
(5) Ibrahim ibn Suleymdn. —Son-in-law of father of (4), and has taken the
flail place of (2) as Rais-i-Diwan of the Amir Faysal. Is an important official and
nim enjoys Amir Faysal's complete confidence.
d ill
36. Fahad ibn Zu'ayr.
Late Governor of 'Asir. Was head of the mission sent to 'Asir in May 1930
Sail t0 jnake the arrangements which subsequently culminated in its practical annexa-
ii tion by Ibn Sa'ud. Was later appointed Amir, though probably not the first to
lif hold the post. Eeported to Ibn Sa'ud with increasing urgency in the autumn of
ded 1932 that the Idrisi was getting beyond himself. The Idrisi, professing complete
iferfi loyalty to the King, complained bitterly of Fahad's rough treatment. The King,
anxious to placate the Idrisi, steered a middle course and sent a commission to
fa# investigate. Before it could reach the spot the Idrisi had gone into open revolt
and Fahad had to escape from his seat of government at Jizan. Little else is
known about him, except that, wherever he now is, he seems to have been
superseded.
jjl $ 37. Farhan ibn Mashhur.
A chief belonging to the Syrian Ruwalla tribe, and hardly within the scope
0 o; - of this report. Nevertheless, deserves inclusion because of the important role he
has played in regard to Sa'udi Arabia. Quarrelled with his own paramount chief
j in 1926, severed his connexion with Syria and embraced Wahhabism. Was
concerned in raids from Nejd into 'Iraq and Transjordan in and before 1929.
r Took a leading part in the rebellion against Ibn Sa'ud that year, in association
lime 11 more particularly with the 'Ajman. Described at that time by the Political Agent
, at Kuwait, who saw him personally, as a tall man of about 40, speaking Nejdi
GW Arabic, with an occasional break into Damascus patois. Escaped into 'Iraq on the
iji collapse of the rebellion and became the subject of an acrimonious controversy,
owing to Ibn Sa'ud's contention that not only the 'Iraq Government but His
■in'" Majesty's Government were bound by definite undertakings to surrender him.