'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎26v] (52/434)

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(4) Qatar .—The A.P.O.C., acting on their own initiative but with the
object of transfer to the I.P.C. secured an exclusive option from the Sheikh to
carry out geological investigations for a period of two years with the right to
apply for a concession within that period. A draft concession approved by the
I.P.C. has recently been submitted by the A.P.O.C. to the Sheikh.
(5) Koweit Neutral Zone .—The present position in regard to this area is
not clear. It may be true that Major Holmes’s primary object in coming to
Jedda in April 1933 was to obtain Ibn Sand’s consent to a regrant, so far as
the Saudi Government are concerned, of a concession for this area. But it
may also be the. case that so far as Ibn Sand is concerned, he has included the
Neutral Zone with the Hasa Concession. This position is at present under
consideration by His Majesty’s Government.
(6) Farsan Islands .—There has been no activity since 1928 and both the
Shell and the Anglo-Persian have recently informed the Petroleum Depart
ment that they are not interested any longer in obtaining a concession over
these islands.
August 5, 1933.
(46)
(Received on 4th Novevmber 1933. with Political Secretary's letter No. 43, dated
19th October 1933.)
Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter dated 12th October 1933.
Letter from His Majesty’s Charge d’affaires, Jedda, to the Foreign Office,
No. 285, dated the 9th September 1933.
No. I.
With reference to Mr. Hope Gill’s despatch No. 160 of the 31st March
1932 F. 140-N.I32), paragraph 4, relative to the activities of Mr. K. S.
Twitched in regard to the Jedda water supply, I have the honour to report that
water has again been brought to Jedda from the wells at Waziriya, and the
event was ceremonially inaugurated on the 26th August in the presence of the
Minister of Finance, local notables, and a large gathering of townspeople. As
the result of the discovery of a fresh spring, to the south-east of the wells
themselves, work has been in progress for some months past, under the direction
of Sheikh Muhammad Dehlavi and experts of the Mecca water supply of Ain
iZubeyda. The water has been led through the old pipes, put down in Turkish
times, and now falls into the Idarus reservoir, situated on the outskirts of one
of the poorer quarters of the town. The present rate of flow, according to
Mr. Twitched, who still shows active interest in this undertaking, is 40 gallons
per minute, and this, he says, it will shortly be possible to increase to as much as
three times that amount on the completion of work on a second conduit which
runs alongside the first, but which is not yet connected over its entire length.
2. Mr. Twitched points out that here there is an ample and cheap water
supply sufficient for the needs of the town, whose present rate of consumption
he places at 38 gallons per minute. Although other local experts would estimate
the local rate of consumption at probably not more than 24 gallons per minute,
it may be conceded that the new source of supply is more than sufficient, is
cheap (for it costs nothing at the Idarus reservoir), and at present is reasonably
safe at source. The Indian Medical Officer attached to this Legation recently
conducted an analysis of the water, chemically and bacteriologicady, and
pronounced it to be fit for consumption. The total water consumption of Jedda,
therefore, may be expected to increase, particularly as the poorer classes are
able to draw as much as they require for the mere trouble of carrying it away.
3. From past experience, however, considerable doubt is expressed as to the
prospects of Waziriya water becoming a permanent factor in the town’s water
supply. The doubt is not diminished by reports that, although from Waziriya
to Has Qaim (a place 5 Idiom, from Jedda) the conduit has been cemented and
is at present fairly sound, over the remaining distance the nipes are old and
rotten and require constant care to prevent leakage. Sheikh Muhammad Dehlavi
has unsuccessfully approached the Jedda municipality in an endeavour to get
the pipe-line thoroughly repaired, and has now placed the matter before Ibn Sand,
stating his preference for a cement conduit over iron piping.