مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [و‎‎٢‎٧‎٢] (٨٠٢/٥٤٤)

o
and 94 above). The Netherlands Legation has nearly finished repatriating its
destitutes and the Charge went on leave on the 18th May. The Italian Minister
and the Turkish Charge were aching to follow him on the 2nd June.
99. Yet another European Power has awoken to interest in Saudi Arabia.
It was announced on the 19th May that the Czechoslovakian consul in Jerusalem
liad forwarded papers through the Saudi consul in Damascus and had been
|®ccepted as consul for Jedda.
IV.— Miscellaneous .
100. The Italian cruiser Libia called at Jedda on the 6th May on her way
to Italy from the Far East and left on the 8th May. There appears to be no
reason to attach political significance to this visit, but the presence of so large a
warship in the roads of Jedda is unusual, and the suggestion that she came to
this port by arrangement with the Saudi Government to take water and supplies
is singular. There were no spectacular demonstrations.
101. The Frenchwoman mentioned in paragraph 72 of the last report
languished in a police cell throughout the month, sustained with victuals and
Vichy water from the French consulate. It is understood that the police enquiry
was terminated and that she would be put on trial before the Qadhi. The Saudi
authorities are thought to be embarrassed between jealousy of their sovereign
rights and fear lest the condemnation on a murder charge of a European woman
however much a Nejdi by marriage, should outrage foreign opinion. The affair
will almost certainly end in the woman’s deportation. If she were condemned,
the execution of a woman would be repugnant to Moslem ideas, and it is by no
means universally believed that she did, in fact, poison her husband. A way out
may be afforded by the application of a theory, which would be convenient on the
present occasion, however distressing it may be for persons in the married state,
that in Moslem law there can be no conviction for such an offence unless two
persons have witnessed the administration of the poison; and, adds Mr. Philby,
two persons who knew it to be poison.
102. Captain H. C. Armstrong, the author of Grey Wolf, was on his way
to Jedda on the 31st May, by appointment with Ibn Saud, to collect material for
an account of His Majesty. It was doubtful whether the King would consent to
this project, and he drew^ the line at allowing his would-be biographer to stalk
him to Riyadh, but the Saudi passion for propaganda seems to have triumphed
over any fears that Fuad Bey Hamza’s perusal of Grey Wolf may have inspired.
It is not known whether measures have been taken to guard against a strong and
modern handling of the King’s love affairs.
103. Jedda grows very hot and sticky, and there was a considerable exodus
of foreigners in May.
104. The disposal of this year’s pilgrimage was almost complete by the end
of May. The total number embarked for India up to the 31st May was 9,791;
for Malaya, about 102. There have been the usual troubles in connexion with
destitutes. One hundred and ninety-nine Indian pilgrims of this kind were
shipped on the 23rd May, and there was reason to fear that a good many more
would come forward. A small but vociferous band of thirty-one destitute
Palestinians and Transjordanians proved a considerable nuisance, but were well
in the way of final disposal at the end of the month. The repatriation of other
destitute British pilgrims presented less difficulty this year.
105. The position in regard to the manumission of slaves in May was as
follows :—
On hand at beginning of month : 3 males.
Took refuge in May : 4 males.
Manumitted in May and repatriated : 1 male.
Locally manumitted : Nil.
On hand at the end of the month : 6 males.
In two cases the local authorities brought up accusations of theft by the late
owners. This always creates difficulty as the charges may be true and cannot be
ignored, but they may sometimes be trumped up to impede the action of the
Legation. The question of the disposal of slaves who have to be repatriated and
are not clearly repatriable to the Sudan continues to create occasional difficulty.
o