مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [و‎‎٢‎٨‎١] (٨٠٢/٥٦٢)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
f P.Z. 1
EASTERN (Arabia).
1 3198
March 21, 1933.
CONFIDENTIAL.
IG bo J
Section 1.
[E 1495/902/25] No. 1.
Sir A. Ryan to Sir John Simon.—{Received March 21.)
(No. 73.)
Si r > Jedda, March 6, 1933.
I HAVE the honour to submit herewith the Jedda report for February 1933.
Copies have been distributed as in the list appended to the report for
J anuary.
I have, &c.
ANDREW RYAN.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Jedda Report for February 1933.
Chapter I .—Internal A flairs.
(Confidential.)
13. I he King remained at Riyadh throughout the month. He is expected
to return to Mecca about the middle of March, about three weeks before
Pilgrimage Day, which should fall on or about the 4th April.
, 14. I he Amir Feisal visited Jedda from the 7ti to the 9th February.
Besides receiving Sir Andrew Ryan and Mr. Hope Gill (see paragraph 23), he
visited the local hospital, the reconditioning of which was foreshadowed in
January, and presented £100 to it.
15. 1 here was marked activity in February in connexion with financial and
economic schemes for the betterment of Saudi Arabia. The following were the
principal developments—
(a) Abdul Hamid Shedid, the ex-Khedive’s agent (paragraph 2), seems to
have made considerable progress with negotiations for the creation of a national
bank, with a capital of £1 million gold, to be subscribed as to one-half by the
ex-Khediye. It is understood that the Saudi Government will have the option
of subscribing £250,000, but that, in the almost certain event of their not doim>-
so, the promoters have another source in view. The remaining £250,000 will be
offered for subscription in the Hejaz. The bank will serve as State bank and
receive all revenue on deposit. A loan of £200,000 is to be made to the Saudi
Government. The bank will have the privilege of issuing notes, but it is not
clear that their use will be made compulsory at the outset. It is not known what,
if any, economic concessions have been promised to the ex-Khedive and his
associates. The financial basis and prospects on which they are workin 0, are
obscure; the possible political motives of Abbas Hilmi Pasha even more so.^
(b) Dr. S. A. K. Jeelani of Madras left for India on the 24th Februarv.
after concluding laborious negotiations for a fifty years’ concession to build
and exploit a railway between Mecca and Jedda. The Government secured verv
favourable terms, including a 50 per cent, share in gross receipts and a loan of
10 lakhs of rupees, repayable in annual instalments. It seemed probable that
Dr Jeelani had moral support in India, but had still to get the definite financial
backing required. The scheme is almost certainly unsound as a practical
economic proposition, but may nevertheless find support on religious Wounds
c Ameru : an ’ Mr - Twitched, who conducted extensive surveys for the
Saudi Government m 1931-32, returned to Jedda on the 15th Februarv with a
Mr. Hamilton, who represents the Standard Oil Company of California.’ He no
longei sei\es the Saudi Government, but has interested American concerns in the
[739 x—1]