مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [و‎‎٢‎٧‎٩] (٨٠٢/٥٥٨)

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39. On the 19th March, Sir Andrew Ryan sent Fuad Bey a personal and
confidential letter containing a systematic statement regarding measures taken
by His Majesty's Government to counteract anti-Saudi machinations in countries
under their control or influence. Fuad Bey’s reply was warmly appreciative.
40. There was no trouble on the Transjordan frontier in March, but the
T’ojected meeting between Captain Glubb and Sheikh Abdul Aziz-ibn-Zeyd again
did not come off. Some correspondence passed regarding the recent conduct of the
Governor of Tabuk in collecting “commission on loot,” i.e., retaining a heavy
percentage of returnable camels. The Saudi Government sent to the Legation on
the 14th February a revised version of an earlier and very cavalier answer to a
protest regarding intrusions into Transjordan by Saudi officials and soldiers last
autumn. Fuad Bey had asked for the return of the first note in deference to
representations as to the unfavourable impression it would create. The revised
version, though still unsatisfactory, was a great improvement on the first.
41. The Iraqi representative in Jedda has not been happy, less apparently
because of any really serious trouble between Iraq and Saudi Arabia than because
his Government press him to attempt the solution of too many questions simul
taneously. The scheme for a motor route for pilgrims between Nejef and Medina
makes slow progress. The Iraqi Government are also keen on a settlement of the
vexed question of property owned by the Hashimite family in the Hejaz, a subject
which may perhaps engage attention during the projected negotiations between
Saudi Arabia and Transjordan.
42. The arrangements for the surrender of the Idrisi to Ibn Saud (para
graphs 21 and 22 of last report) hung fire throughout the month. There has
been much reticence on the subject, but there have been no other overt signs of
tension between King and Imam.
III. —Relations with Powers outside Arabia.
43. Relations between His Majesty’s Minister and the Saudi Government,
i.e., Fuad Bey Hamza, were sweeter than sugar throughout the month. The main
subject of discussion was the Saudi-Transjordan recognition formulae. Ibn
Saud has been accommodating to an extent which affords a further indication of
the nervousness mentioned in paragraph 36 above. On the 4th March a local
policeman entered the Legation offices in circumstances which necessitated a
protest on grounds of violation. After an unsuccessful effort to get an adequate
apology from the Governor of Jedda suitable satisfaction was obtained from the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Ibn Saud gave a proof of goodwill in March by
authorising the return to Jedda of a man, partly in the Legation service, who had
been deported last year in consequence of a charge of having made an alcoholic
beverage.
44. Fuad Bey gave Sir Andrew Ryan on the 18th March a general account of
the position between Soviet Russia and Saudi Arabia since 1931. He stated that
no general agreements had been reached on the lines described by the Soviets, but
admitted that the Saudi Government had removed the embargo on trade from
Russia, subject to its not being started pending the elaboration of machinery for J
the marketing of Russian goods.
45. The Netherlands Charge d'Affaires (see paragraph 23) returned from
Sana in the last days of March. The French Charge d'Affaires returned rather
earlier, stating, not unplausibly, that he had only gone to Syria to have a
permanently-damaged eye seen to.
46. The Afghan Minister for Foreign Affairs arrived in Jedda on
pilgrimage on the 6th March and went on a day or two later to Medina. He is
understood to be on leave and it is not known whether he had brought the
instrument of ratification of the Saudi Afghan Treaty of May 1932.
IV.— Miscellaneous.
47. H.M.S. Penzance visited the Farzan Islands on the 22nd-24th March.
Owing to a misapprehension in Jedda as to the instruction of His Majesty's
Government, the visit was not notified to the Saudi Government by the Legation,
with the result that the local sheikhs and Amir, though very polite, demurred to
the visit, as not having been authorised by their superior authorities.