مجموعة ٦/ ١٩ "الجزيرة العربية: (المملكة العربية السعودية) التقرير السنوي لمملكة الحجاز ونجد." [ظ‎‎١‎٠‎١] (٥٤٠/٢٠٣)

48
A\hen H.M.S. Penzance visited the islands, the commanding officer reported that,
although their value as a potential naval base was extremely doubtful, a good
landing ground for aircraft existed on Senafir Island. There were rumours of an
Italian attempt to purchase, or obtain a concession over, Tiran, but interest in
su bsided by the end of the year. It was, however, agreed between
the departments concerned that the islands should be visited occasionally by His ^
Majesty’s ships without prior notification to either the Egyptian or Saudi
Governments.
190. Visits to Jedda continued to be made by bare notification to the Saudi
Government, without any request for permission. No other Saudi ports were
visited.
XIII.— Miscellaneous.
The Death of His Late Majesty King George.
191. Ihe universal sorrow caused by the death of His late Majesty King
George was generally shared in Jedda. Among the expressions of sympathy
iecerved were many from Indians both in Mecca and Jedda No religious service
could be held, but most of the Legation staff, some members of the European
British community and the Netherlands Charge d’Affaires gathered at the
Legation on the 28th January to hear the funeral service. The references in the
press to the abdication of His Majesty King Edward VIII were so discreet as to
be almost unintelligible.
General Position of Foreign Subjects.
British subjects continue to be treated with consideration. A European
Hutch subject who knocked down a Saudi with his motor car, causing injuries
which proved fatal was arrested and taken to the police station, but energetic
representations by the Netherlands Charge d’Affaires secured his speedy release.
193. Apart from the usual spoliation and occasional ill-treatment of
pilgrims, the position of British subjects and protected persons of non-European
race gave little ground for complaint. That of Africans, indeed, improved owin-
to the mci eased demand for unskilled labour in this country.
included ^ 0n an( ^ non-Moslem visitors to Jedda during the year
Colonel P. T. Etherton (British).
Mi. C. H. Jancred (British; Dunlop Rubber Company).
V Hadkinson (British; British American Tobacco Company).
r ‘ a i • Bay cock (British; a director of the Saudi Arabian Mining
Syndicate).
M. Biraud (French; La Societe frangaise des Petroles)
Mr. S. H. Longrigg (British; Iraq'Petroleum Company).
Mr. Axier^Russmn travelling on Egyptian passport; Socony Vacuum
Colonel F. P. Mackie (British; the Ross Institute).
(Limited) 1 )^ ^ British; ^ ellat ly } Hankey and Company (Sudan)
Mr. Daimpre (British; General Motors (Limited)).
Lieutenant-Colonel Micklem (British; Selection Trust (Limited))
Colonel and Mrs. J. Wikeley (British). '
Dottore Salvatore Aponte (Italian; representative of the Corriere della
195. Economic development is tending to bring an increasing number of
Europeans and Americans to this country, and whereas in the palt they have
been confined to Jedda there is now, owing to the activities of the Saudi Arabian
Mining Syndicate in the neighbouring districts, a quite considerable Americo-
European colony at Wejh and another at the Cot-of-Gold Mine some 240 miles
in Hasa^ 1 6 ^ ^Bfornia Arabian Standard Oil Company have a similar colony