'File 11/44 Leading Personalities in Iraq, Iran & Saudi Arabia' [‎45v] (90/96)

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suffered a mental collapse and to have left for
treatment in January 1945. lielieved of his post
in May 1946.
57. Yusuf Yasin, Shaikh.
Probably bom about 1898. A Syrian from Latakia,
said by his enemies to be of Yezidi origin. Was at
school in Jerusalem in 1917. Joined King Faisal at
'Aqaba and went with him to Damascus. Left on
the approach of the French and joined King Huseyn
in Mecca. Attached by him to the Amir Abdullah
at 'Amman, with whom he remained six months.
Formed so low an opinion of the ’Amir that,
according to his own account, he broke with Huseyn
in consequence. Joined Ibn Sa’ud in due course.
Came to Mecca in 1924-“25 and started the Umm-al-
Qura newspaper. Figured as a Nejdi delegate at the
Moslem Congress of June 1926. Remained editor
of the Umm-ai-Qura for some years, but was also
official Director of Publicity. Took part in negotia
tions with Sir G. Clayton in 1925, 1927 and 1928.
Acted as Minister for Foreign Affairs in absence of
'Dr. ’Abdullah Damluji in 1926 and 1927. Reported
in 1928 to have worked to undermine influence both
of Damluji, who resigned that year, and of Hafiz
Wahba {q-v.). Employed in various negotiations and
again acted at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, for
Fuad Hamza early in 1931, and for the Amir Faysal
and Fuad as w'ell in 1932, but has for some years
been principally important as a personal secretary
to the King, who made him head of the political
section of his diwan in 1930, and whom he always
accompanies. Was intermittently in charge of the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, during the absences of
Fuad Hamza, in 1934, 1935 and 1936. Went to
Bagdad at the end of 1935 to negotiate the Sa’udi-
Traq Treaty of Brotherhood and Alliance. Was
notorious for his obstructiveness during the Clayton
negotiations, and is naturally obstinate and hair
splitting in discussion, but can on occasion be
amiable and even conciliatory. Takes his cue, in
fact, from the King himself, to whom he appears
to be genuinely devoted, and who probably trusts
him as much as any of his near advisers, except
’Abdullah Suleyman. Is probably a more convinced
Wahhabi than most of the King’s alien entourage
and is also a strong Arab nationalist, with fewer
ulterior motives than Fuad Hamza, having a simpler
character and less European knowledge. Has the
eyes of a fanatic, but has acquired the figure of a
bon vivant. Works very hard but delights in creating
difficulties and seeks to earn his master’s praise for
solving problems of his own manufacture. He feels
sufficiently sure of his usefulness to the King and the
real power of his position to allow' himself to be the
butt of the King and of those who aim their wit the
same way as the King, and often deliberately plays
the clown when he judges the King to be in the mood.
His gluttony and monogamy are standing palace
jokes. He is very jealous of Abdullah al Suleyman
and of the latter’s powerful assistant, Najib Salha.
As the principal channel of communication between
the King and the legation he has in practice exercised
the functions of Foreign Minister, the Amir Faysal
being little more than a figure-head. He was the
negotiator for Sa udi Arabia of the Sa’udi-Koweit
Agreements which he signed at Jedda on the
20th April, 1942. He still exercises control over the
Umm-ul-Qura and drafts official communiques for
publication in it. He has much increased the stock
of English w'hich he acquired during a short stay in
Surbiton w'hen he accompanied the Amir Sa’ud to
England for the coronation of King George VI.
Speaks Arabic with perhaps greater rapidity than
any other man in Arabia and retains something of
his native North Lebanon accent. Went on a visit
to Lattaqia, where he and his two brothers own farm
property, in May 1943. A rapprochement took place
between him and Najib Salha (No. 69) in 1943 and
he bitterly opposed the latter’s dismissal in April
1944, remaining in close touch with him after his
departure to Egypt. During the discussions between
His Majesty’s Minister and Ibn Sa’ud early in 1944
on the reorganisation of Sa udi finances and economy
was mostly obstructive and supported Abdullah
Suleiman in opposing any proposals for reform. A
pompous busybody, his loyalty to the King appears
to be genuine though it occasionally serves as a
cloak to hide personal motives. A difficult colleague
with the small-mindedness of a Latakian grocer but
not unpleasant if taken with a pinch of salt. His
English continues to improve, thanks to the
successive efforts of legation secretaries and, latterly,
he claims, of the American pilots of the Sa udi air
craft in which he so frequently flies.
He has, perhaps, mellow'ed somewhat with the
passing of time. He can be genial and amusing in
the conduct of official business, though on occasion
he can combine the stubbornness of a mule with the
slipperiness of an eel.
Was the Sa’udi delegate at the Preparatory
Committee Meeting of the Arab Conference at
Alexandria in October 1944, and signed the covenant
of the Arab League on behalf of Sa’udi Arabia in
March 1945. Accompanied Ibn Sa’ud on his visit
to Egypt for the meetings with President Roosevelt
and Mr. Churchill in February 1945. Was the Sa’udi
delegate at the special meeting of the Arab League
assembly in June to discuss the Syrian crisis. /■
He has been Saudi delegate at all meetings O-
the Arab League Council, and this has kept him for
long periods away from Jedda, much to the relief of
the local foreign missions. Unfortunately, he leaves
no one responsible or intelligent in charge during
his absence. His feud with the Minister of Finance
grew in bitterness during 1945-46, and, as a sop for
one uncomfortable scene between the two of them,
Ibn Sa’ud appointed him to the rank of Minister
of State.
Shaikh Yusuf, when accompanying the King on
his state visit to Egypt, pocketed considerable sums
intended for the remuneration of Egyptian
journalists. He also asked King Farouq’s Chief
Aide-de-camp to find him a little estate in Egypt
costing from £E.40,000 to £E.50,000. Like most of
those around the King, he is busily making hay while
the sun shines. His wife, who lives in a Cairo
suburb, is said to be dissolute and a drunkard.
58. Muhammad Surur as-Sabbdn.
Administrator of the Finance Department. Soi
of a slave of the Sabban family (mother stated to
have been Abyssinian), and became the moving spirit
in their hide and skin business, which was at one
time important, but became latterly bankrupt. Was
a clerk in the municipality under King Huseyn, and
is said to have tried to assassinate Ibn Sa’ud when
he conquered the Hejaz in 1925, and to have been
subsequently incarcerated at Riyadh. Returned to
the Hejaz about 1929 and was taken up by the
Minister of Finance, whose powerful influence got
him appointed to his present post. Became second
only to him in the Ministry of Finance in practical
importance, and during the latter’s absence at
Hudeyda in May 1934 was in effective control of it.
Manager of the Arabian Export Company, a corpora
tion formed to promote the export trade of the
country. Continues to have great influence and to
be much concerned in commercial enterprises.
Reported in 1936 to have a great following in official
circles. Pleasant, generous and most capable. Has a
younger brother, Abdullah, w r ho is not, however, of
any importance. By 1939 Muhammad Surur had
lost all influence, and was kept strictly to the limits
of his post as head of the Accounts Branch of the
Ministry of Finance. Since the dismissal of Najib
Salha (q.v.) has rapidly regained his influence.
Early in 1945 was reported to have quarrelled with
Shaikh Abdullah Suleyman owing to the appoint
ment over him of an Inspector in the Ministry of
ra