مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [ظ‎‎٢‎٤‎٦] (٨٠٢/٤٩٣)

4
\
Riyadh, it is a little difficult to be quite satisfied with the bona fides of this
assurance. The visit, however, is not so imminent as at first appeared likely:
M. Maigret was expected to arrive on the 28th October by a French naval
despatch-boat, the Ypres, which had called at Beirut on its way to the Red Sea.
The despatch-boat duly arrived, but the French Charge d’Affaires was not on
board. His return is now expected for the 12th November, but Fuad Bey Han>^.
who had at first intended to await his arrival in Riyadh, was on his way back .o
Mecca at the end of the month.
IV .—M iscellaneous.
229. Lieutenant-Colonel Ibrahim Depui, M.C., formerly in charge of the
French consulate here, and now reported to be employed in the Intelligence
Department of the French War Office, arrived on the 20th October by Italian
steamer from Massawa, after touring certain Red Sea ports (Aden, Jibuti,
Hodeida, &c.). As he is a Moslem, he spent most of his visit to this country at
Mecca and Medina; he left for Suez on the 1st November.
230. The French naval despatch-boat Ypres arrived here from Beirut on
the 28th October and left the next day.
231. The Saudi Government, in spite of several reminders, have as yet been
unable to issue their official tariff of dues and transport charges for the
forthcoming pilgrimage season. The Minister of Finance has informed His
Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires most categorically that the official tariff for 1934.
which was in course of being printed as part of the pilgrimage guide published
annually in Mecca, was exactly the same as the 1933 tariff. British authorities
’ concerned have been, therefore, notified to that effect.
232. The position in regard to the manumission of slaves in October was
as follows :—
On hand at the beginning of the month : None.
Took refuge in October : None.
Manumitted in October and repatriated : None.
Locally manumitted : None.
On hand at the end of the month : None.
o