"ملف 61/11 V (D 95) مسائل متنوعة خاصة بالحجاز ونجد" [ظ‎‎١‎٩‎٠] (٥٣٠/٣٩٧)

16
Arrangements were finally made for him to be shephered circuitously from 'Iraq
to Jedda, but he broke away in Syria and has since remained there. His Majesty's
Government maintained their consistent theory that they had no responsibility
and Ibn Sa'ud grudgingly allowed the controversy to be laid during Nuri Pasha's
treaty-making visit to the Hejaz in April 1931. Ibn Mashhur has since kept
quiet, but he is a man of energy and likely to reappear some day. His natural
attaches are still probably with the Hashimites and Nuri Sha'alan, although his
adventures have clouded his relations with both in the recent past.
38. Fawzdn as-Sahiq.
Sa'udi agent in Egypt. Aged about 45. Belongs by origin to the 'UqeylJ
the guild, as it were, of recognised caravan-guides. Educated in a Turkish
school at 'Amman. Is by profession a dealer in camels and horses and still
appears to do this business. Was Ibn Sa'ud's agent in Damascus prior to 1924.
Moved in that year to Cairo, where he occupies a similar position, not officially
recognised in any way, although he does passport work, &c. Is described by
Mr. Smart as a devout Moslem, plain, slow, courteous and old-fashioned;
politically rather innocent, but possessed of a certain native shrewdness.
39. Fuad Bey Hamza.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. A Druze from the Lebanon, born
about 1900. Educated in Turkish schools in Syria, the Teachers' Training-
College, Beirut, and the Syrian Protestant College, Beirut. Was Inspector of
Schools at Damascus for a time. Obtained a post as clerk under the Palestine
Department of Public Health in 1921. Resigned after a few months and took
service under the Department of Education as a teacher in Acre. Transferred in
1922 to a secondary school in Jerusalem as teacher in English and remained until
1926. Studied simultaneously at the Law School, got a Certificate of Legal
Studies in 1925 and qualified in five subjects, including Constitutional History
and Public International Law, for the Diploma, but did not complete the course.
Had a uniformly good record in Palestine, but was mixed up in politics and the
Druze insurrectionary movement. May have feared arrest, although he was not,
in fact, in danger of it. Left for Egypt on the 2nd December, 1926. Apparently
was to go to India on a Syro-Palestinian delegation, but was drawn to the Hejaz,
where, after giving English lessons for a time, he was taken into the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs by Yusuf Yasin, then acting for Dr. 'Abdullah Danluji.
Became Acting Minister in July 1928, when Dr. Danluji left on a mission, never
to return. Had probably worked earlier to undermine Danluji's position.
Remained Acting Minister until the Amir Faysal became titular Minister with
Fuad as Under-Secretary, but still effective head of the Ministry in December
1930. Retained his post, with a seat on the Council of Ministers when the latter
was constituted early in 1932. Prefers to call himself in English Deputy
Minister. Visited Europe for the first time as a member of the Sa'udi Mission
under the Amir Faysal in the spring of 1932 and did all the real business. Was
made an honorary K.B.E. during the visit to London.
Fuad Hamza is alert, intelligent, well informed on matters pertaining to his
work and industrious. Speaks English well and Turkish, but is hampered by
lack of more than elementary French. Equally devoted to his own ambitions and
to the cause of Arab nationalism, serving Ibn Sa'ud as its exponent, though
inclined sometimes to despair of the system of which he has made himself part.
Keeps in touch with other Nationalists in Palestine, and probably Syria. Is used
by the King as his instrument for foreign affairs, and makes the most of
his position, but probably does not enjoy Ibn Sa'ud's full confidence, so that his
power varies. Very hostile to 'Abdullah Suleyman and took part in the
unsuccessful drive against him in 1931. Conforms to Wahhabism without
conviction. Would like to see Sa'udi Arabia, a name of which he was one of the
authors, develop on modern, more or less constitutional lines. Likes drafting
laws. Would go to great lengths for the causes he has at heart, but is seldom, if
ever, dishonest in diplomacy. Rather bumptious and sometimes difficult to deal
with, but responds to personal handling. Sometimes spoken of as anti-British,
sometimes even as pro-Soviet; probably wrongly, except in so far as his attitude
towards foreign Powers is determined by Arab nationalism. May have put by
a modest amount of money, although the only traceable record of anything
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