'File 61/11 V (D 95) Hejaz - Nejd, Miscellaneous' [‎204r] (424/530)

Uju
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
EAST EEN (Arabia)
CONFIDENTIAL.
[E 4697/469/25]
Ami
August 16, 1933.
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Section 3.
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V
No. 1.
Mr. Calvert to Sir John Simon.—(Received August 16.)
(No. 233.)
Sir, Jedda, July 25, 1933.
WITH reference to my telegrams No. 141 and No. 143 of the 21st and 22nd
July respectively, relative to the case of two girls who took refuge with this
Legation on the 15th July as escaped slaves seeking manumission, I have the
honour to transmit to you herewith a memorandum prepared by Captain B. W.
Seager, in which the course of events is succinctly summarised.
2. The case presented certain unusual features from the outset, but the
attitude of the local authorities was not of a nature calculated to assist a prompt
and detailed study of it. The discussion described by Captain Seager as having
passed between himself and the representative of the Governor of Jedda,
corresponded very closely with that between Sheikh Ali Taha and myself, and in
each case was most harmonious in character, although it was plain, from the
unusual energy with which the local authorities were pursuing the question, that
powerful interests were involved and that considerable pressure was being
brought to bear upon the Governor.
3. In spite of the assurances of the Saudi authorities, I felt bound to insist
on a full enquiry into the facts before the girls left the shelter of the Legation.
It was a little difficult to detect a motive which would lead free girls voluntarily
to declare themselves slaves, whilst the motive actuating a slave-owner in
representing runaway slaves to be free in order to obtain possession of them again
was not so far to seek. The girls' story, moreover, was circumstantial and
consistent, well-told and tenaciously held.
4. I invited the co-operation of the local authorities in a full investigation,
and, as this was withheld, authorised the enquiry to proceed at once
independently. The proposal made by Sheikh Ali Taha that I should agree to
the case being investigated by the local Sharia Cpurt I felt unable to accept,
particularly as he attached the condition that the girls should in the meantime
be handed over to the local authorities. I, however, referred this question to you
in my first telegram under reference, as I felt that a ruling on a point, which, so
far as we are aware here, has never arisen before, would be useful.
5. The memorandum describes the course of the investigation and the
eleventh-hour confession of the girls. I saw Sheikh Ali Taha shortly after
the true facts had been established, arranged to hand the girls over to him, and
pointed out that much ado would have been spared the Legation if the Saudi
authorities had shown a readier response to our request for their collaboration—
with which Parthian shot the incident closed.
6. The question of principle, in regard to the Sharia Court, remains, and I
would be grateful if, in due course, I might be favoured with your views for
guidance should a similar case arise in future.
I have, &c.
A. S. CALVEET.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum hy Captain Seager.
ON the morning of the 20th July I received a telephone call from
Sheikh Ali Taha, the Deputy-Governor and Assistant Under-Secretary tor
Foreign Affairs, who, speaking in his capacity as Deputy-Governor, intorme
me that two sisters who had taken refuge in the Chancery building on the
[879 q—3]