"ملف 8/15 سلسلة الجزيرة العربية - ١٩٣٣-١٩٣٩" [و‎‎٧‎٤] (٤٣٤/١٤٧)

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Enclosure to Serial No. (100). 1 / ! -
Demi-official letter from the Hon’ble the Political Resident in the
Persian Gulf, Bushire, to the India Office, No. 1116-S./34, dated
the 28th November 1934.
With reference to my demi-official letter No. 1029-S. of 7th November
1934 [Enclo. 1 to S. No. (94)], on the subject of the effect of the Saudi-Yemen
War on Ibn Saud’s prestige, I enclose herewith for ready reference a copy
of Calvert’s letter No. 294 of September 25th, 1934 [Serial No. (88)], to
the Foreign Office, which rather tends to confirm my views. At the same
time of course one cannot attach too much importance to ordinary tribal
unrest in Saudi Arabia : whatever the state of Ibn Saud’s prestige there
will always I imagine be some tribes ready to 'take a risk and show signs
of discontent.
I am sending a copy of this letter to Metcalf and Ryan.
( 101 )
[Received on 8th December 1934, with Political Secretary's letter No. 47,
dated 22nd November 1934.)
) No. 1.
Letter from the Consul at Damascus, to the Foreign Office, No. 57,
DATED THE 25TH OCTOBER 1934..
I have the honour to enclose a translation of a report published on the
23rd October, 1934, of an interview given by Fuad Bey Hamza, Deputy
Minister for Foreign Affairs to King Abdul Aziz-bin-Saud, to the reporter
of the Ayyam.
2 . I am sending a copy of this despatch and its enclosure to His
Majesty’s Minister in Jedda.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Extract from the Ayyam of October 23, 1934.
Conversation between our Special Correspondent and Fuad Bey Hamza.
Q. Will your Excellency tell me in detail what was the aim in present
circumstances of your visit to the European capitals ?
A . I went to Europe on a private visit to take a rest, but I also took the
opportunity of meeting the men of Italy, France and Great Britain of
discussing with them questions of interest to His Majesty King Abdul Aziz,
and of solving some of the outstanding problems. I visited Italy and met
Signor Mussolini. This visit served to confirm the good relations existing
between the Italian and Arabian Governments. I visited the French capital
and met the men of its Government and spoke to that experienced politician,
the late M. Barthou, whose death was a great loss to the French nation. He
was an energetic man, and he wisely steered French policy in the stormy sea
of politics. I visited the English, capital and met the Hon’ble Sir John
Simon, the Foreign Minister, and other men of the British Government. I
am glad to be able to declare that we succeeded in overcoming many difficulties
and in coming to an understanding about many questions which are of
interest to the Arab Saudi and the British Governments.
Q . Hejaz being one of the Governments that inaugurated the League of
Nations, is it the intention of His Majesty to use that right, having neglected
so far to claim it ?
A . Hejaz, which was one of the Governments which founded the League
of Nations, was then an independent country by itself. Now it is not,
6 3[C) F&PO