مجموعة ٦/ ٩ "تقارير جدة يناير ١٩٣١ -" [ظ‎‎٣‎٩‎٧] (٨٠٢/٧٩٥)

m
—'«
workmanlike and disciplined; pack animals with various equipment and about
100 men in charge; two armoured cars; a disorderly rout of less than forty
horsemen posing as “ cavalry ” ; and a much more impressive camel corps of from
300 to 400 men. Although the army is being organised in the Hejaz, most of the
men in it appear to be Nejdis. The Bedouin review on the 27th February
(paragraph 9) began with a small turn out of regular infantrymen. ^ These, atte^
performing their European evolutions, sought and obtained the King s permission
to take part in the war-dance. Faudhi Bey seems to be a man of intelligence
and initiative. He told Sir A. Ryan in February that he intended to start «t
school for n.c.o's. This is probably sensible, as trained ex-Turkish officeis aie
available for present requirements in the higher ranks. It appeared from
Faudhi Bey’s conversation that the King’s ultimate ideal is to have a regular
army for the whole of his dominions.
VI.— Naval Matters.
British.
48 The Senior Naval Officer, Red Sea Sloops, arrived in Jedda on the
13th February in H M.S. “ Lupin ” and stayed three dlays. The opportunity
was taken of discussing with Captain Dicken various matters of naval interest
including the following :—
(a) Restrictions, if any, to be placed on searches for arms in Hejazi
territorial waters and in dhows of Hejazi nationality outside them
(July-August report, section 34).
(h) Possibility of more frequent visits to Jedda and of reviving the practice
of visiting other ports.
(c) Naval salutes for Hejazi dignitaries.
A practically complete measure of personal agreement was reached on these
subjects, but, as final decisions have still to be taken at home, any further account
of them is deferred owing to consid'erations of space.
French.
49 The French sloop “Baccarat” visited Jedda from the 6th to
10th January. The officers were much in evidence during the festivities m
honour of the King’s accession. ^ ,
50. Rear-Admiral Deville, Commander-in-chief of the French naval
division in the Levant, arrived at Jedda from Port Sudan in the naval yacht
“ Diana ” on the 18th February and left for Suez on the 20th February This
was the last stage of a lengthy Journey by land and sea across Syria and I ra 9
and round from the Persian Gulf. The admiral was good enough to call
privately af the British Legation, and expressed much appreciation of the courtosy
he had received throughout his journey from British authorities. The
“ Diana ” accorded a salute of thirteen guns to the Acting Governor of Jedda, to
whom it had been decided that H.M.S. “ Lupin ” should not give a salute in view
of his subordinate position and the unsettled state of the general question.
VII.— Pilgrimage.
Forged Rupee Notes.
51 See December report, section 19. No definite news reached Jedda in
January or February regarding the progress made by the French authorities in
Syria It was suggested towards the end of February that it might be well tor
the member of the Legation Staff who dealt with the matter last year to address
a final letter to the broker in Syria, in order to disarm the suspicion that might
result from complete silence. This suggestion was referred to His Majesty s
consul-general at Beirut for his views on the 9th March.
Movement of Pilgrims.
52 A much reduced pilgrimage was still anticipated at the end of February,
although the prospect as regards numbers was perhaps a little better than in
December. The “ Umm-al-Qura ” of the 13th March put the total of arrivals up