"ملف ١١/ ٤٤ الشخصيات الرائدة في العراق وإيران والمملكة العربية السعودية" [ظ‎‎٤‎٦] (٩٦/٩٢)

ployed for a short time by Gellatly, Hankey and
Company (Sudan) Limited. After a short but
troubled period of service with that firm in Jedda,
he entered the Ministry of Finance. Speaks English
well and has an easy manner. Made himself useful
to the Minister of Finance, whose secretary he
became. In 1936 placed in charge of a newly-created
department of the Ministry of Finance, styled the
“ Office of Public Works,” established to deal with
the growing number of foreign concerns holding con
cessions in Sa’udi Arabia. By 1939 he had estab
lished himself in the confidence of Abdullah
Sulainian to the detriment of Muhammad Sunir,
was employed as purchasing agent for the Govern
ment, and was enriching himself almost openly by
bribery and commissions. Became indispensable to
the Minister of Finance and was specially commis
sioned by the King to deal with supply matters, but
found it difficult to exercise his functions without
much interference from Yusuf Yasin. After the out
break of war he was in constant contact with the
legation and showed himself intelligent and frank.
He worked very hard and co-operated most helpfully
with the legation in the endeavour to organise the
provisioning and finances of the country. Was free
in his criticism of the ignorance and incompetence of
most of the members of the Sa’udi Government and
made many enemies but was loyally backed by
’Abdullah al Suleyman, and was probably the most
efficient of all the King’s servants. He was said
to have enriched himself but this is scarcely
remarkable in a country where emoluments are
certain of payment only if the official is in a position
to help himself. Although he abstains from tobacco
and alcohol he makes no pretence of being a Wahhabi
or even a very devout Moslem. Early in 1944
evidence came to light which showed him in his true
colours. It was found that he had made use of his
position to enrich himself, and one of his associates
in crime now estimates his personal fortune at
£360,000, in addition to a handsome account in the
Guaranty Trust Bank of New York. It transpires
that he had deliberately misinformed the legation
about the true supply and financial situation of the
country in order to ensure the continuance of His
Majesty’s Government’s generous assistance to
Sa’udi Arabia and thereby to increase his own
fortune. When in Cairo early in 1944 he began
intriguing with the Americans, whom he had always
sought to play off against the British, and warned
His Majesty’s Minister that the Sa’udi Arabian
Government would ask for his recall if he were not
more complacent over the matter of supplies and
finance. Ibn Sa’ud, who learned of Najib’s
activities, was furious and dismissed him in April, in
spite of strong pressure from Abdullah Suleiman and
Shaikh Yusuf Yasin. telling His Majesty’s Minister
that he had always disliked Najib and had only kept
him on because he enjoyed British support. He is
at present (July 1944) in Cairo, where he has started
a transport company. Ibn Sa’ud. always generous
to those that have served him, is said to be paying
him a ” retaining fee.” His place as Director of the
Office of Public Works at Jedda was taken by
Tzzet Din Shawa (No. 34). Najib remains in Egypt,
where he acts as unofficial agent of the Sa’udi
Royal Family, and is in close touch with Yusuf Yasin
and his associates. He has acquired valuable house
property in Cairo, for which he has paid about
half a million pounds. He is busy trying to obtain
the agencies of American cars and is a partner of
Ibrahim Shakir (q.v.) in the Sa’ftdi Arab Trading
Company formed in January 1945. Continues (June
1946) to reside in Cairo, posing as Saudi purchasing
agent. His name stinks in British and United States
Disposals Board nostrils because he is known to have
been assisted to acquire vehicles, Sic., on Saudi
Government priority and to have sold them to
Egyptian purchasers privately, at large personal
profit, within 24 hours.
70. Sa'ud ibn 'Abdullah ibn Jiluwi.
Appointed Governor of Hasa upon the death of his
father in October 1935. Born about 1900. Made
an unfavourable general impression on Sir Andrew
Ryan, who was received by the new Amir at Hofuf
with a singular lack of ordinary Arab politeness, in
December 1935. Described as repulsive in appear
ance owing to a super-squint. Reported from
Bahrein to take an even stronger line with the
Bedouin than his father did, and that much of the
father’s work in the last four years of his life was,
in fact, done by the son. Shows nervousness in the
presence of foreigners, but this can be overcome. In
1938 it was reported that his powers were being
curtailed by the King, and that troops not under his
control were to be quartered at Hofuf.
Maintains his “ court ” on an almost Royal scale
and appears now to enjoy Ibn Sa’ud’s confidence.
Whether he would remain loyal to the King in all
circumstances is not certain.
71. Sand ibn Hedhlul.
Appointed Governor of Tabtik in 1936 in succes
sion to ’Abdullah as-Sidayri (No. 50 (1)). Reported
from Transjordan to have made a popular start,
partly by recruiting his bodyguard locally, a
departure which created a favourable impression.
72. Tala at Wafa. ^
Born about 1900 in the Hejaz. In 1934 member
of Sa’udi boundary commission for the Yemen-
Sa’udi frontier after the conclusion of the Treaty of
Taif. Police official of importance, being Director
for the Provinces of Asir and Najran, and O.C.
regular forces in Najran and Abha in 1936.
Appointed Deputy Director of Public Security in
1943 and Director of Police, Jedda, in 1947.
73. Ibrahim Tdsdn.
A Nejdi born and brought up in Asir. Formerly
in the Ottoman army. Now Commandant of the
Jedda military district and “ Director of the Air
Force.” Served in the Arab army of Sharif Hussein
and was associated with Colonel Lawrence.
An extremely pleasant and entirely harmless
individual with a sense of humour but little military
ability. Has been most forthcoming as far as the
British Military Mission is concerned, but lacks
initiative and has long ago reached his limit.
74. A s'ad al Faqih.
A native of ’Aley, in the Lebanon. Coun
sellor to the Sa’udi Legation in Bagdad in 1938.
Afterwards charge d’affaires and appointed in 1943
to be minister there. Has some knowledge of
English, and speaks French well. Member of the
Sa’udi delegation to the San Francisco Conference
in April 1945. Became first Saudi Minister in Wash
ington, December 1945.
75. Khalil Hajjan.
Late Director of Police, Jedda. Formerly in
Turkish army. Captured by the British during the
Great War, but volunteered to join the Sharifian
forces. Joined Ibn Sa’ud after the fall of Jedda in
1925. A heavy drinker. Appointed Director of
Police, Medina, in 1947.
76. Khuraiji, Shaikh Muhammad aT.
Father-in-law to Shaikh Abdullah Sulaiman, to
whose influence is attributed the fact that he has
become the wealthiest man in Medina.
77. Sa'd ibn Faisal.
Governor of Duwadmi, 1938. Born about 1898.
Son of a Royal slave.