مجموعة ٦/ ١٩ "الجزيرة العربية: (المملكة العربية السعودية) التقرير السنوي لمملكة الحجاز ونجد." [ظ‎‎٧‎٨] (٥٤٠/١٥٧)

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Paragraph
V.—Aviation and connected matters—
Saudi air force ... ... ... 137
Other aviation ... ... ... 144
Alleged violations of Saudi territory 146
VI. —Press ... ... * ... ... 149
VII. —Legislation ... ... ... 152
VIII. —Education ... ... ... 157
Paragraph
IX.—Public Health
... 160
X.—Pilgrimage
... 168
XI.—Slavery
... 180
XII.—Naval matters
... 187
XIII.—Miscellaneous
... 191
I.—Introduction.
IN contrast to the Italo-Ethiopian War and the troubles in Palestine, both
of which interested Saudi Arabia closely, there was peace throughout the Saudi
dominions. Political refugees continued to return, and except for the natural
jealousy of the Hejazi for the Nejdi, there were no serious signs of lack of unity.
The gradual weakening of Wahabi fanaticism is removing one great cause of
internal friction.
2. It was a wonderful year for Ibn Saud in political affairs. He concluded
important treaties with Iraq and Egypt, effected an exchange of notes with His
Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, which gave him great satisfaction,
and was perhaps the most important figure in the intervention of the Arab rulers
in the Palestine question. Towards the end of the year, however, two shadows
fell over the sunny landscape—the change of Government in Iraq and the
Alexandretta question—which probably made Ibn Saud realise that pan-Arab
politics are more difficult than they had appeared.
3. Economically, the year must be considered disappointing, for neither the
mines nor the oil wells which were being examined or exploited held out any
certain hope of success. The California Arabian Standard Oil Company did
not find oil m commercial quantities, and although the Saudi Arabian Muning
Syndicate found plenty of gold, they did not find enough water to work it within
economic distance of the mine. A second oil concession, granted during the year
was still in the prospecting stage at the end of December.
. . 4 - Saudi Government show at times that touchiness at anything that
looks like foreign interference that is to be expected in these days from oriental
countries recently risen to independence. It sometimes takes an extreme form as
for instance, where Sheikh Yusuf Yasin argues that the Government of India
ought to admit into India any Saudi pilgrim agent who is considered by his own
Government to be fit for this work, or describes as a relic of the Capitulations the
interest which His Majesty’s Legation take in British pilgrims while they are in
baud! Arabia. There are signs that the privileges which have hitherto been
enjoyed by the foreign missions, particularly in the matter of exemption from
customs dues are being examined by the Saudi authorities and that attempts will
be made to cut them down. The privileges are wider than in most other countries
and they have been grossly abused by one or two of the Legations. On the other
hand, the Legations suffered from various restrictions such as do not obtain in
any other country and they are morally entitled to some unusual privileges bv
way of compensation. F uy
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