'File 8/7 I Jidda Intelligence Reports' [‎63v] (126/536)

Ryan on the 4th June of complicity in.the machinations of King Ali and others
whom they believe to be at the back of the Ibn Rifada affair. He visited Medina
for a few days at the beginning of June and was, according to his own account,
very closely watched. He returned to Jedda on the 8th June and went to Taif to
see Ibn Saud next day, before leaving rather unexpectedly for Bagdad on the
11th June. His object apparently was to get the King’s last word about the
Legation dispute. It was uncompromising, as might have been expected from
a reply which His Majesty had sent on the 28th April to a personal appeal from
King leisal. Both sides had so dug themselves into their positions that up to
the end of June it seemed difficult for either to give way, unless the Amir Feisal’s
visit to Bagdad, where he was to arrive on the 8th July, should prove to have
pro\ ided a solvent. 1 he outlook for normal and friendly relations was none too
bright at the end of June, what with the acerbity of this difference, the suspicious
ness of the Hejazi Government towards Dr. Naji, the dispute over Judaidat-al-
Arar (see paragraph 187), and the fact that the Hejazi Charge d’Affaires elect
at Bagdad was still in residence at Mecca.
210 . The Iraqi Government are still anxious for an agreement over the
less contentious but long-drawn-out question of the organisations of an overland
motor route for pilgrims from Iraq.
Afghanistan.
211 The Afghan Mission (see March report, paragraph 68), concluded a
treaty with Hejaz-Nejd on the 5th May, after Ahmad Shah Khan had presented
credentials to Ibn Saud on the 3rd May. The treaty had not been published
up to the 30th June. It is noteworthy that both the reception and the signing
of the treaty took place in Jedda. It was categorically stated in the account of
the former in the Umm-al-Qura that the presentation of letters had been
delayed until the King could come to Jedda, because 4 in Mecca, on account
of religious and traditional reasons, no diplomatic ceremonies can be held.”
The Hejazi Government were doubtless anxious to strengthen their case in the
quarrel over the seat of the Iraqi Legation. It is unfortunate that the differences
of Moslems should cause diplomacy to be regarded as an occupation too profane
to be pursued in a Holy Place. The Afghan Mission left Jedda via India on
the 14th May.
212 . It is worth noting that the Indian agitator Ismail Ghuznavi, a protege
of Ibn Saud with pretensions to be his representative in India, took it on himself
to broadcast the news of the conclusion of the treaty to a large number of
papers, &c., mostly Indian, but including also the “ Corriere ” of Milan and the
United Press of Berlin, to whom he represented it as an event to which far-
reaching political importance was attached.
213. The Afghan Mission, while in Mecca, arranged to buy an existing
house, belonging to the Governor of Jedda, to serve as the projected hostel for
pilgrims.
Other Countries.
importance to record except that the representa
tives of the Netherlands, Turkey and Persia left Jedda in May and had not
returned up to the end of June. Adequate arrangements for the carrying on
of routine business by juniors of no great individual interest were made in
each case.
Hejazi Air Force.
Chapter IV .—Air Matters.
2! 5 The equipment in Jedda remained useless and more or less derelict
during May and June. When the Hejazi Mission were in London, Fuad Bev
suggested at an informal discussion that His Majesty's Government should
reconsider their attitude of last autumn and reverted to his personal suggestion
that they might offer a Royal Air Force mission on a moderate scale which he
indicated. It was suggested to him that he might mention the matter at an
official meeting and he did so on the 13th May. In due course the Foreign Office
who were now inclined to favour the proposal, entered into correspondence on
the subject with the Air Ministry.