"ملف 8/7 I تقارير الاستخبارات في جدة" [و‎‎٦‎٢] (٥٣٦/١٢٣)

Chapter III .—Foreign Relations.
General's Hejazi Mission.
194. The mission arrived in Paris about the beginning of May, after a
short stay in Geneva. They came on from Paris to London on the 7th May and
stayed until the 16th May. They subsequently visited The Hague (the 16th to the
19th May), Berlin (the 20th to the 24th May), Warsaw (the 25th to the 28th May),
Moscow (the 29th May to the 5th June), Constantinople (the 9th to the 12th June),
and Angora (the 13th to the 19th June, or earlier). They were expected to reach
Tehran via Constantinople and Baku on the 28th June. The dates given are
approximate. Various references are made elsewhere to the business done. On the
ceremonial side, the mission seem to have been received with much honour in all
the capitals from which information has been received, but to have attracted
comparatively little public attention. They lunched with President Doumer just
before his assassination, and Fuad Bey flew from London to Paris to attend the
funeral. They were given military honours at Dover, and met at Victoria by
representatives of the King and Sir John Simon. In London they stayed as the
guests of His Majesty’s Government at the Dorchester; visited Windsor privately
on the 8th May; were received by His Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace
on the 9th May, and visited the Morris Works in pouring rain that afternoon;
attended a reception by the Hejazi Minister on the 10th May, and dined that
evening with His Majesty’s Government at the Foreign Office, Sir John Simon
presiding; were shown the Port of London, including the wine vaults full of
alcoholic fumes, on the 11th May; and saw a display at Aldershot on the
12th May. The Amir attended their Majesty’s Court on the 11th May, and
Fuad Bey the second Court on the 12th May. The Amir showed intelligent
interest in what he saw, acquitted himself well at all functions, and appeared
to enjoy his visit, in spite of a heavy cold, contracted in France, happily. Fuad
Bey attended as few functions as possible, saw to the business side, which the
Amir left entirely to him, and visited the House of Commons. The Amir was
made a G.B.E., Fuad Bey a K.B.E. The official visit ended on the 14th May,
and the mission fended for themselves during the Whitsun week-end. The
farewell messages were most cordial, and included a happily-drafted message to
the “charming people’’ of Great Britain, as well as the more conventional
expressions of thanks to the King, &c. At The Hague the mission was received
by the Queen, and visited the Netherlands East Indies Exhibition. A day was
spent in Amsterdam. Little information is available regarding the subsequent
visits, except that on the Russian frontier the mission was hailed not only by
officials but by brass bands, which “ played the International and various Arabian
airs,” and were in Moscow entertained in the manner provided for State guests
of the second category of importance. They also visited Leningrad.
International Conferences, &c.
195. There is nothing important to record.
Great Britain.
196. The Hejazi Mission (i.e., for practical purposes Fuad Bey Hamza, as
the Amir Feisal attended only the first business meeting, which was little more
than formal) raised the following questions, which were discussed at official
meetings on the 9th and 13th May :—
(1) General Relations .—The mission expressed Ibn Saud’s misgivings as to
whether His Majesty’s Government loved hinj as wholeheartedly as of
old. and his anxiety to be guided in his policy by the views of His
Majesty’s Government, to whom he looked for both moral and material
support. Sir L. Oliphant made cordial and reassuring statements in
general terms on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
(2) Possibility of a Loan and Economic Developments. —As regards the
former, see paragraph 165. As regards the latter, Fuad Bey
mentioned Mr. Twitched’s surveys and the King’s desire to look to
Great Britain in all things. Nothing conclusive emerged.
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