Coll 6/50 'Saudi Arabia: Saudi Relations with the Soviet.' [‎17r] (33/100)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’ S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Arabia).
CONFIDENTIAL.
[E 980/980/25]
No. 1.
ii-
Sir A. Ryan to Sir John Simon.—(Received February 12.)
(No. 27.)
Sir, Jedda, January 29, 1935.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 92 of the 23rd March, 1933, regarding
the relations between the Saudi Arab Government and the Soviet, I have the
honour to state that a Soviet official named Guertik has been attached for com
mercial work to the Soviet Legation here for three or four weeks past. I gathered
at first that he might be a permanent addition to the staff, but it now seems more
likely that he will not stay long and is merely on a tour of inspection. This is
borne out by a statement in the Aden Intelligence Report for the fortnight ending
the 2nd January that he is expected at Hodeida shortly. He is there described
as “ inspector-general of Russian oil business.”
2. The following is a summary of an account given of M. Guertik by the
local manager of Messrs. Gellatly, Hankey and Co. (Sudan) (Limited) : He
appeared to be agreeable, unaggressive and less reserved than many Soviet officials.
He disclaimed any idea of launching a commercial offensive and declared : ‘ c Je ne
veux pas la lutte.” He discussed with Mr. Black the position in regard to certain
staple imports here and appeared to recognise that in some lines, e.g., sugar and
petrol, the Soviet trading organisations would find it difficult to compete in Saudi
Arabia at present prices. M. Guertik seemed to be interested in the marketing of
Soviet manufactured goods and actually sounded Mr. Black as to whether Gellatly,
Hankey and Co. (Sudan) (Limited) would accept an agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for their sale.
3. It may be worth mentioning that another Russian commercial expert
named Kondrachoff recently visited Jedda. He is a member of the Soviet Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
in the Yemen and stayed here only a short time, awaiting an opportunity of
proceeding to Russia via Port Sudan.
4. Apart from the above facts, I have observed no recent signs of any special
activity on the part of the Russian Legation here. The Soviet Government may,
however, be planning a fresh commercial campaign and there have been some
indications of a desire on the part of the Legation to cultivate relations with the
powerful Saudi Minister of Finance. On the other hand, there was a story last
October that the Soviet Minister gave as one reason for hesitating to commit
himself to a ten years’ contract for a house the possibility that his Government
might at any time abolish his post.
5. I take the opportunity of mentioning that the personnel of the Soviet
Legation, not including M. Guertik, is now composed as follows :— 1
Nezir Turakoulov, Minister, Moslem, with a non-Moslem wife.
Shakir Ismailoff, Moslem, with wife, possibly Moslem.
Dr. Toukov-Rowanski, doctor, with wife, non-Moslems.
Morsen, dentist.
6. I am sending copies of this despatch to the Department of Overseas
Trade, His Majesty’s Chief Commissioner, Aden, and to the Government of India
(Foreign and Political Department).
I have, &c.
ANDREW RYAN.
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