Coll 6/49 'Railways and Communications: Proposed Jedda-Mecca Railway. Motor Transport Arrangements.'

IOR/L/PS/12/2116

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The record is made up of 1 file (109 folios). It was created in 17 Aug 1932-17 Nov 1939. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Content

This file concerns the progress of schemes relating to the improvement of transport and communications in Saudi Arabia.

The file largely consists of copies of correspondence received by the Foreign Office from His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan, succeeded by Sir Reader William Bullard) and His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires to Jedda (Cecil Gervase Hope Gill, and in later correspondence, Alan Charles Trott), which includes discussion of the following:

  • Details of a failed concession for a Mecca-Jedda railway, granted by the Government of Saudi Arabia in 1933 to an Indian doctor and businessman named Saiyid Abdul Khadir Jeelani, who is reportedly unable to obtain financial support for the scheme.
  • Difficulties regarding motor transport arrangements in Saudi Arabia during the pilgrimage season, following the creation of a motor transport monopoly in Saudi Arabia in 1936.
  • Details of an agreement, dated 5 October 1939, between the Saudi Arabian and Egyptian Governments, primarily relating to construction and repair work on the road between Jedda and Arafat, and on certain parts of the Medina-Mecca road (the agreement also concerns the provision of water and electricity in Saudi Arabia).

The file's other principal correspondents are the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, the Chief Secretary of the Government of Madras From 1684-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Madras [Chennai] and southern India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. , and various correspondents from the Foreign Office.

In addition to correspondence, the file includes a copy of the scheme for the construction of a Jedda-Mecca railway and a copy of the aforementioned agreement between the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Egypt.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 2).

Extent and format
1 file (109 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 110; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-110; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
Type
Archival file

Archive information for this record

Access & Reference

Original held at
British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference
IOR/L/PS/12/2116
Former external reference(s)
Coll 6/49

History of this record

Date(s)
17 Aug 1932-17 Nov 1939 (CE, Gregorian)

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Coll 6/49 'Railways and Communications: Proposed Jedda-Mecca Railway. Motor Transport Arrangements.', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2116, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x00028e> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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