مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [و‎‎٣‎٣‎٠] (٨٠٢/٦٦٠)

Disarmament Conference.
57. The Hejaz-Nejd Minister in London was delegated in January to
represent his Government at Geneva. A lengthy memorandum giving information
on the armaments of the Hejaz, Nejd and Dependencies was circulated to the
conference on the 8th February, followed on the 24th by a memorandum by the
4^ Hejazi delegation notifying his views as to the need and manner of disarming
the world.
Congresses.
58. His Majesty’s Government's invitation to attend the hifth Inter
national Congress of Local Authorities (July-August report, paragraph 54) was
accepted by the Hejaz-Nejd Government in January, their Minister in London
being deputed to represent them. An invitation to attend the London Inter
national Congress on commercial education was apologetically declined.
Italy.
59 A treaty of friendship with Italy and a commercial agreement were at
length signed on the 10th February, after negotiations lasting two years. The
Italian draft anti-slave trade clause has been dropped {cf. November-December
report, paragraph 47).
Germany.
60 M. de Haas reassumed charge of his consulate on the 23rd March.
The Netherlands.
61. M. Adriaanse left Jedda on the 7th March on a brief visit to the Yemen
to present Queen Wilhelmina’s reply to a letter of greeting, sent to her last year
by the Imam Yahya on the occasion of M. van der Meulen’s visit to Sana (May-
June report,, paragraph 46). No other political significance is attached to
this visit.
62. A M. van Leeuwen, erstwhile of the Netherlands Trading Society, was
engaged in March by the Hejaz-Nejd Government as financial adviser for a year
at £2,000 (see paragraph 11 above).
Soviet Russia.
63. The Soviet Charge d'Affaires has presented the Amir Feisal with
5 rifles of a pattern known as “ Turki ” and apparently much prized by Bedouin.
He was also discovered recently holding a small arms exhibition in his Legation.
No arms are known to have been ordered.
64. The last consignment of Soviet benzine, 30,000 cases, w T as landed at
Jedda in February in completion of the contract of last summer (July-August
report, paragraph 63). Payment is understood to have been relegated to item 5
of the k ‘ budget. "
Turkey.
65. On the 28th January the Turkish Ambassador called on His Majesty's
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to tell him that the Turkish
Government had been asked by the Hejazi Government to lend pilots and
mechanics for the development of their air service and to send a military mission
to give similar help to the Hejazi army. Ferit Bey said that, before replying
to this request, the Turkish Government, having regard to their very friendly
relations with His Majesty’s Government, desired to inform them of the request
and to consult them about it. He was thanked for his communication and
subsequently told that His Majesty’s Government saw no reason why the Turkish
Government should not accede to the Hejazi Government's request. This request
follows upon Ibn Saud's failure to obtain British personnel (see November-
December report, paragraph 59). There is no sign as yet of the arrival of any
Turkish personnel or mission.