مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [ظ‎‎٣‎٣‎٠] (٨٠٢/٦٦١)

14
Egypt.
66. At the end of 1931 the Egyptian Prime Minister informed His
Majesty's representative at Cairo that Egypt now had a consular representative
of some ability at Jedda, and that, according to this official’s reports, the
difficulties which stood in the way of establishing friendly and regular relations
were not insoluble. Sidky Pasha added that he was occupying himself with the f
matter, with the purpose and in the hope of solving the difficulties, which were
of a religious as well as of a political order. Hafiz Amer Bey, however, who
went on leave of absence last September, has not yet returned to Jedda, and
nothing is known locally either of any progress in Egypto-Hejazi relations or of
the Egyptian consul’s movements.
Iraq.
67. Dr. Naji-al-Asil, King Feisal’s first diplomatic representative at the
Court of King Ibn Sand, arrived in Jedda on the 14th February with a wife (not
visible) and family, and a secretary and clerk. He was greeted as Iraqi Charge
d Affaires and consul-general by the Viceroy, but his letters of credence were not
accepted; they named him specifically to Mecca instead of to Jedda. His luggage
and His note-paper bore the same address (see paragraph 40 of the report for
September-October). There has apparently been either a misunderstanding on
the part of Nuri Pasha, who seems convinced that Ibn Saud agreed with him last
March that Mecca should be the seat of the new Legation, for reasons of special
consideration for his brother Feisal, or else Ibn Saud did indeed agree to the
proposal; but his Lnder-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who was ill and absent
at the time, must have managed on his return to make him go back on his decision
and omitted to mention it to the Iraqis. Whatever the cause, the effect was
distinctly disagreeable to Dr. Naji, who has taken his anomalous position very
philosophically, however, has failed as yet to secure an honourable compromise,
and has settled down in Jedda to await results. He learned at the end of March
that King Feisal would send a personal message by special courier to Ibn Saud,
appealing to him to honour his bond. The incident‘is an ill-omen for independent
Iraq-Nedji relations. Dr. Naji has shown himself very friendly disposed to the
Legation, which he often visits for advice and to exchange information.
Afghanistan.
68. Ahmad Shah Khan, Minister of Court and cousin of King Nadir Shah,
arrived on pilgrimage on the 17th March, and with the further objects of
negotiating a treaty with Ibn Saud and of building an Afghan pilgrim hostel at
Mecca which should redound to the credit of the Afghan King. Having brought
very little money, he is having difficulty with this objective. Nothing definite
is yet known of the course of the negotiations, but there are indications of a
deplorable atmosphere of suspicion.
United States of America.
69. Mr. Crane’s American engineer left for the Yemen on the 7th March,
after making an extensive prospecting tour in the Hejaz and Nejd, and detailed
recommendations to Ibn Saud for the development of his wealth by the purchase
of American machinery and the engagement of American mining experts (see
paragraph 14 above). He may return shortly to press his suit, which is not
thought to please the King, however.
Poland.
70. In February a Polish professor of Chinese culture, who claimed to
speak forty languages and to live in Cairo with a tubercular wife, visited Jedda
from Egypt. From the language which he held on various occasions, it was
understood that his object was primarily to obtain payment from the Heiazi
Government of something over 2 million zlote in respect of the Polish arms
delivered in 1930 (August 1930 report, paragraph 15). A secondary object
seemed to be to discover what medical and sanitary arrangements the Heiazis
were making for the pilgrimage, with discretion, if these were reassuring, to use
the prospect of persuading a few score Polish Moslems to perform pilgrimage
as an inducement to the Hejazi Government to pay him the desired £50,000 gold.