مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [و‎‎١‎٠‎٨] (٨٠٢/٢١٦)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Arabia;.
j . . _
June 3, 1936.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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Section 2.
[E 3186/486/23]
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Copy No.
Sir A. Ryan to Mr. Eden.—(Received June 3.)
(No. 131.)
Sir, Jedda, May 4, 1936.
I HAVE the honour to submit herewith the Jedda report for April 1936.
2 . Copies have been distributed as in the list in paragraph 41 of the report
for January.
I have, &c.
ANDREW RYAN.
Enclosure.
Jedda Report for April 1936.
I .—Internal Affairs.
120. IBN SAUD left Jedda on the 2nd April, but stayed in Mecca only
until the 19th April, when he moved with a large party, including his heir, to
Ashaira (an early stage on the road to Riyadh) for country air and hunting.
He apparently intended to make that place his base for some weeks and make
extensive excursions therefrom. It is uncertain whether he will in due course
proceed to Riyadh without revisiting Mecca. Anyhow, he attended a farewell
party in Mecca on the 15th April as though he were leaving for Nejd. He made
a speech at this banquet, consisting mostly of religious exhortations, but he spoke
also of his wish for closer contact with his people in order that they should
express to him their desires and know about his acts and intentions. He gave
an open invitation to all and sundry to visit him any time, or, in his absence,
the Amir Feisal, at a stated daily hour. The press recorded later what may have
been another speech of the same character or a further version of the same. In
this he preached concord.
121. Taken in conjunction with the announcement mentioned in
paragraph 86 of the last report, and with the prolonged stay of the heir apparent
in the Hejaz, these Royal utterances have some significance as indications of the
King’s desire to popularise his regime and perhaps even to broaden its basis,
although autocracy is still essential to its preservation. It is stated that the
Amir Saud has become very affectionate with his relatives, and that his (Baud’s)
visit to Europe has greatly broadened his outlook. He has had private cinema
shows in Mecca and very audible music from the wireless close to the Haram.
These proceedings cause some little scandal to the unco’ guid, but may increase
his popularity with the local inhabitants.
122. The most important Royal statement was an interview given by the
King to the correspondent of the Cairo A hram and published in the local press
also on the 16th April. He expressed high hopes of the beneficial consequences
to the Arab nation of the recent Saudi-Iraq Treaty (paragraph 140 ff. below).
He hoped that other Arab countries would join the alliance. The correspondent
added a gloss to the effect that he understood the King to be referring to Egypt,
Transjordan, Palestine and Syria. As regards the present international crisis,
the King hoped that “ wisdom would overcome recklessness.” He advised Arabs
to keep calm and not to meddle in matters of no concern to them. He applauded
the wisdom of the French Government, his friends, in negotiating with the
Syrians. Turning to a completely different subject, he defended his action in
giving a concession to the Saudi Arabian Mining Syndicate.
8659 [731 c—2] ’ B