مجموعة ٦/ ١٩ "الجزيرة العربية: (المملكة العربية السعودية) التقرير السنوي لمملكة الحجاز ونجد." [و‎‎٢‎١‎٧] (٥٤٠/٤٣٤)

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A representative of the Emir Lutfullah, a rich or once rich Syrian banker of sorts
in Egypt, who had dabbled in Hejazi finance in King Hussein’s time, visited
Jedda in the spring, ostensibly, or really, to adjust a difficulty over premises
rented by his principals. It was rumoured that he brought offers of money, and
the Banque Misr was also credited with readiness to accommodate Ibn Saud.
^ Nothing came of these never more than nebulous transactions.
(11) Turkey.
94. The Turkish Charg6 d’Affaires, Seni Bey, left Jedda in July to take up
a post in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at Angora. He was in due course
succeeded by one Lutfullah Bey, a younger man with some diplomatic experience
in Angora, London and elsewhere. Neither representative showed much sign in
1931 of political activity, beyond keeping in fairly intimate t< th the
Russian and perhaps one or two other Legations. There is nothin w that
Hejaz-Nejd.
(12) Persia.
95. There were equally no signs in 1931 of any development in the relations
between Persia and Hejaz-Nejd. The derelict Persian Legation resumed its
the beginning of April, but he went on leave again on the 20th June. This time
he left his brother-in-law and vice-consul in charge until he came back on the
26th December. Shiite Moslems still suffer from and detest the rigours of
Wahhabism. Habibullah Khan frequents everybody and has a passion for taking
photographs of his friends by artificial light. His sister and her husband, the
vice-consul, were allowed to reside at Taif for some time in the autumn on the
distinct understanding that they were there unofficially. There is nothing else
to be said about the intercourse between these two Moslem countries during
the year.
(13) Afghanistan.
96. One of the more notable events of the year was the visit to the Hejaz as
a pilgrim of ex-King Amanullah of Afghanistan. He was accompanied by two
near relatives of his wife, and his visit was the signal for a gathering of his
sympathisers, some of whom arrived in Jedda simultaneously with the King
himself on the 18th April. He was received with Royal honours and was
entertained by Ibn Saud as his guest. He performed the pilgrimage with great
unction, obviously with the object of reinstating himself in the good opinion of
Moslems, and showing either that he had always been a good Moslem himself or
that, if he had sinned, he was a repentant sinner. His visit passed in an
atmosphere of political propaganda on his behalf. It was apparent that, if not
definitely preparing for an attempt to regain his throne, he was at least laying a
foundation for some such attempt in a not impossible future. He took the
opportunity of circulating copies of a long statement, which he had published
some little time before, defending his past and attacking Nadir Khan. The
Government of India were much perturbed lest Amanullah should endeavour to
proceed incognito via one of their ports to Afghanistan. This suspicion was
aggravated by the fact that he had grown a beard. This appendage is in the
Hejaz an almost necessary proof of piety, but it was thought in India that it
might serve the purposes of disguise. In the event the ex-King left Jedda for
Italy quite openly on the 9th May, after a short visit to Medina, still wearing his
beard, but very anxious to be rid of it. He could hardly have left surreptitiously,
even if he had wanted to, without the connivance of Ibn Saud and the Hejazi
authorities. There was no reason to suppose that they were in any way associated
with his political activities, much less that Ibn Saud, himself so hard pressed for
money, was likely to finance a pretender to the Throne of Afghanistan. The King
had acted on the principle that he could not deny access to the Holy Places to any
Moslem, however embarrassing, and it would have been contrary to his whole
attitude not to treat a Royal personage, however decayed, as being entitled to
Royal hospitality. Perhaps the greatest honour he did the ex-King was to allow
him to participate in the annual sweeping of the Kaaba.
the present Turkish Government takes an active interest in
irs of.
place in the diplomatic life of Jedda on the return of the Charge d’Affaires about