مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [ظ‎‎٣‎٩‎١] (٨٠٢/٧٨٣)

2
Prefatory Note.
IN view of the increased pressure on the Legation at Jedda, it has been
decided, with the approval of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to issue
these reports at intervals of two months in future. It is hoped that this will
not materially reduce their value to the recipients, and that it will enable the^
Legation to issue the reports more punctually, although on the present occasion
special reasons have caused delay.
The following arrangement will be adopted in future :—
The main divisions will be retained with Roman numerals and cross-
headings. Sub-sections will be shown by unnumbered cross-headings. The
paragraphs will be numbered consecutively throughout to facilitate back-
reference.
This opportunity is taken of mentioning that the spelling Jedda is con
secrated by Foreign Office usage. Whatever may be said for or against it, it
is convenient that the place where the Legation is should be known in official
English by a fixed name. If other posts can reconcile it with their philological
principles to adopt the Foreign Office version it will be much appreciated. The
Legation is conscious of many defects in its own spelling and will welcome
suggestions from other posts as to the spelling of important place-names in their
respective spheres.
I.—Internal Affairs.
Ibn Saud.
1. The King returned to Mecca on the 20th January and spent the whole
of Ramadan there. He came to Jedda on the 25th February and stayed over the
end of the month. On the day of his arrival he held a formal reception of foreign
representatives. The principal object of his visit was to receive the rich
American Mr. Charles R. Crane, who, having come from the United States
specially for the purpose, arrived in Jedda on the 25th February, accompanied
by Mr. G. Antonius. An account of a previous visit by Mr. Crane to Jedda
will be found in the report for December 1926. It may be remarked incidentally
that, at that time, he was mal vu in French and British circles owing to his
connexion with Syrian revolutionaries. At present he creates the impression
of being an innocuous old gentleman, with wide interests and a passion for
recording the many things he has seen pass “ into history.” Ibn Saud showered
attentions on Mr. Crane, for whose benefit a Bedouin review was held on the
27th February (see paragraph 9). The foreign representatives were also present,
and the King entertained them and Mr. Crane at dinner the same evening. On
the following day he honoured Mr. Philby with his company at tea, the principal
members of the party being much the same. Ibn Saud appeared to have derived
benefit from his visit to Nejd and was in his best form during his stay in Jedda.
The unusual coolness and pleasantness of the climate earned his commendation.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
2. The unsatisfactory state of affairs resulting from the illness of Fuad Bey
Hamza (December report, paragraph 1 (6)) continued throughout January, and
no business could be done by personal interview. The Emir Feisal visited Jedda
on the 8th and 9th January for the celebration of the King’s accession. He
received Sir A. Ryan at a specially arranged interview on the 8th January, but
it was almost entirely of a formal nature. It was afterwards explained that
he had visited Jedda as Viceroy of the Hejaz only. He returned on the 28th
January, accompanied by Sheikh Yusuf Yasin. Owing to Fuad Bey’s illness,
which culminated in his departure for Egypt on the 30th January, Sheikh
Yusuf Yasin became Acting Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, remaining at
the same time private secretary, head of the Political Section of the Divan and
general factotum to the King. ‘ The Prince having formally received the foreign
representatives, apparently with some exceptions, on the 29th January, arranged
to receive His Majesty’s Minister for business on the 30th January. When
Sir A. Rvan went to keep this appointment the palace resembled that of the
Sleeping Beauty, with the Beauty and nearly everyone else in the background.
Neither the Prince, Under-Secretary, A.D.C. nor servants were to be seen, and