مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [و‎‎٣‎٣‎١] (٨٠٢/٦٦٢)

It seems that the visit was inspired by the Polish Charge d Affaires at Cairo.
The professor left disappointed about equally with Hejazi science and Hejazi
finance.
Chapter IV .—Air Matters.
Hejaz Air Force.
71. This invisible body figures in the Hejaz-Nejd communication to the
Disarmament Conference, dated the 24th January, as comprising 11 officers and
150 men. The Ilejazi Government's approach to the Turkish Government for
the loan of ^pilots and mechanics has been reported in paragraph 65.
72. The same memorandum gives the number of Hejazi aeroplanes as nine.
Only two of these are capable of flying to-day. Two more might fly after an
overhaul and some rebuilding; the other five will never fly again.
A rab A eronautical Society.
73. A report on the first year's working published in March does not make
encouraging reading. £2,000 was subscribed, but not paid. Happily, the society
holds promissory notes from all subscribers, and expenditure was nil. In spite of
difficulties the society registered its determination to carry on. A new 7 appeal
for support is to be issued, rich pilgrims are to be asked to contribute, and propa
ganda is to be set on foot. Fuad Bey Hamza is vice-president.
Emergency Landing Grounds.
74. On the 24th January His Majesty’s Minister took up with the Under
secretary for Foreign Affairs the question of the provision of emergency landing-
grounds on the Hasa coast for aircraft in distress on the Persian Gulf route, in
accordance w 7 ith His Majesty’s Government’s instructions of the 2nd December
(November-December report, paragraph 60). He went very fully and tactfully
into the matter but found Fuad Bey very sticky. It was evident that he
personally disliked the whole idea and would like to see Ibn Sand drive a hard
bargain, should he agree to His Majesty's Government's request. Sir A. Ryan, in
reporting the interview on the 25th January, opined that it was a matter in which
Ibn Saucl might be more amenable to a direct appeal, but unfortunately there was
no prospect of his visiting Jedda before April at soonest.
75. On almost the same day the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf
mentioned the same matter to Ibn Sand himself at Hufuf. The King said that
he w 7 as prepared to consider it sympathetically. Sheikh Yusuf Yasin shortly
afterwards informed Colonel Biscoe that Ibn Saud was now ready to afford any
facilities asked for on islands, but not on the mainland, for fear of incidents with
Bedouin. Certain islands w 7 ere discussed and Colonel Biscoe suggested to His
Majesty's Government that the matter should now be taken up officially. A
Rangoon flying-boat which took refuge at Jinna Island in mid-January reported
that a landing-ground was already marked out and fit for use and staffed wdth
clerks complete w 7 ith customs forms in Arabic and English for the use of visiting
pilots. Only formal permission to use the ground now seemed required, but with
the King’s disappearance again into Nejd and in face of Fuad Hamza’s malign
influence at the seat of Government, no favourable occasion occurred of pursuing
the matter.
Aerial Trespass.
76. Squadron-Leader Warhurton w 7 as lost in the desert west of Rutba Wells
in early January, and in order to forestall complaints of aerial trespass over his
territory, Ibn Saud w 7 as formally asked for aerial hospitality for the search patrol.
This was readily accorded and every assistance promised. Meanwhile, the
missing machine was found in Iraq. Ibn Saud was thanked.
77 In mid-January a Rangoon flying-boat forced-landed at Jinna Island
in the Persian Gulf. The Hejaz-Nejd Government were informed and the hope
was expressed that there w 7 as no objection to the necessary relief measures. They
replied that, as a humane duty, they had no objection. Meanwhile, a new 7 engine
was fitted and all at Jinna w 7 ere very courteous; the Hejazi Government w^ere
thanked.
78. The Hejaz-Nejd Minister in London informed His Majesty’s Govern
ment late in February that a British machine had flowm over Qaryat al Milh
wdthout permission on the 27th or 28th January, but he did not press the point,
nor was the Legation troubled.