'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎118v] (236/434)

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observed to run as follows : Birk-Raghdan—Barq Samuda (not cn Hunter’s map
but about 21 degrees 30 minutes by 41 degrees 30 minutes'—Ashaira—Marran—
Iqbah—Point 7 miles east of Malid-adh-Dhahab—Amaq—Hanakiya—Hadiya—
2500 mark of Hunter's map on Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan frontier near Itraif, thence along the
de facto Hejaz- Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan frontier to Aqaba. The difference between this
alignment and the published version relates principally to the area in the neigh
bourhood of the Mahd. It would appear that the Saudi Arabian Mining Syndi
cate are likely to lose, owing to miscalculation of the position of the Mahd and/or
Jureysiya, a considerable slice of territory. The extent of this loss is not altogether
clear although it probably forms a salient into the concessionary area, but whether
of 7 miles depth or a larger area, due to an important inaccuracy in fixing the posi
tion of the Mahd, is not apparent.
This is, of course, the main difficulty. Related to it, and indeed perhaps part
of it, is the difficulty recorded in my minute of the 21st December 1935, where it
is described how Mr. Shanks was not permitted by an obstructive Amir of Medina
to prospect as far east as the Jebel Hilit, an area, however, I should have thought
would under any interpretation be well outside the Saudi Arabian Mining Syndi
cate concession.
Minor difficulties have been experienced and smoothed away, e.g., over employ
ing Nejdi as well as Hejazi labour.
(d) New Recruits, with general Idea of Distribution.
Staff arrivals and departure have been recorded pretty faithfully in our des
patches to the Foreign Office. Since the last one No. 339 of the 26th November
1935 [Serial No. (10)], the following have arrived :—
S. C. Bullock—(British), arrived December 21, 1935.
J. Walker—(American), arrived December 15, 1935.
? Shaw—(American), arrived ? December 29, 1935.
? Cezanne—(? French), arrived ? December 29, 1935.
The total strength of the syndicate’s personnel is now approximately twenty-
five Europeans and Americans, the majority of whom are employed at the mine
or prospecting, and over 700 labourers, etc., at the Mahd-adh-Dhahab. The com
position of the European and American personnel of the syndicate, by nationalities
may be of some interest and is, approximately, as follows :—
British
Swedes
American
Dutch
German
Greek ..
French
.. 8
.. 6 (or ? 7 or 8).
.. 5 (or ? 6).
.. 2
1
.. 1
.. 1
24
(23)
Memorandum No. 28 (489/411/8), dated the 15th March 1936.
His Majesty’s Minister at Jedda presents his compliments to H. E. the Viceroy
of India (Foreign and Political Department), and has the honour to transmit to
him a copy of despatch to the Foreign Office, No. 77, dated the 15th March
1936, regarding Ibn Saud’s speech.
Reference to previous correspondence :
Jedda printed despatch No. 24 of 28th February 1936 [Enclosure to Serial
No. (20)].