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'File 61/11 IX (D 159) Nejd-Hejaz Miscellaneous' [7r] (24/391)
The record is made up of 1 volume (192 folios). It was created in 4 Apr 1939-16 Jan 1942. 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. .
Transcription
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b11 t t
this document is the property op his britannic majesty's government
.- >1 . ^ ,r-7 j - C. \ P) N' •''
EASTERN (Arabia ). March 14, 1939.
Ki ^-O CX-C / . . . • ——— - ■ mi
CONFIDENTIAL, I .1 ^ S ection 3.
^ | COMriDEi^TiAL K2C0uD3 j
*SzV ft. Bullard to Viscount Halifax.—{Received March 14.)
// . (No. 33 E.)
My Lord, Jedda, February 22, 1939.
'''\ I HAVE the honour to submit a brief report on the commercial side of
th e act ivities of the new German Minister to Saudi "Arabia on whose stay in
Jedda T reported in my despatch No. 29 dated the 18th February. ~ • 3 .
2. But for its poverty, which compels it to turn to the cheapest market, viz.,
Japan, Saudi Arabia is the ideal country for the German exporter, since its
exports are insignificant and it has free currency obtained from the pilgrimage
and from royalties on oil. The revenue from oil is at present small, but within
a short time it may be coming in at the rate of nearly a million sterling a year.
~~3: Saudi Arabia also suits Germany as a markef in that the King is very
anxious to establish a standing army, and that Germany is able "to supply arms
and^ammunition. We know from confidential sources that the German Minister
prornisecTto do his best to ensure the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia at low prices
ancToii easy terms of payment, and it may be assumed that his task will be
facilitafed by political considerations. So far, it seems, only Mauser rifles and
ammunition have been in question, but as the oil revenues increase, orders for
other munitions, such as guns and armoured cars, might well be placed in
Germany. - "Kel* • t v *
4. In my despatch No. 206'E. dated the 30th October, 1938, I reported on
a transaction by which Saudi lamb skins had been sold in Germany at a good
price on condition that the sellers bought German goods to twice the amount
which the skins realised. Muhammad Ali Riza, who effected this transaction,
stated at the time that this arrangement suited Saudi Arabia at the moment, but
might not always be convenient.
5. In his final visit to me just before his departure Dr. Grobba talked a
good deal about trade prospects. He admitted that the creation of a regular army
would give Germany an opportunity to tender for the supply of arms. He saw
only restricted opportunities for the use of the barter system with Saudi Arabia,
but hoped that Germany might take a larger share of Saudi exports of skins. He
said that the Saudi authorities had also suggested as suitable articles for barter,
millet from Jizan and dates from Hasa; but as Germany only wants millet for
fodder and dates for the extraction of spirit the prices she is likely to be able
to offer cannot be tempting unless politics is to take precedence of economics. I
have no special knowledge of the Hasa date trade, but I believe that the Hasa
dates, which ripen earlier than the dates in Basra, command a fair price as food
in India and
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
ports. But I am inclined to believe that the Saudi
suggestions about millet and dates were not very serious, and that such German
goods as are sold here will usually be sold for cash.
6. I am forwarding copies of this despatch to His Majesty's Principal
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the Department of Overseas Trade and
to His Majesty's Ambassador at Bagdad.
I have, &c.
R. W BULLARD.
(7
[E 1881/735/28] Copy No. 10
[555 o—3]
About this item
- Content
The volume consists of letters, telegrams, and reports relating to the affairs of Saudi Arabia. Most of the correspondence is between the British Legation in Jeddah, the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in Bushire, the Foreign Office in London, the Political Agencies in Kuwait and Bahrain, the 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. in London, and the Government of India.
The volume covers the build up to and outbreak of the Second World War and thus much of the correspondence focuses on this subject. Topics include:
- the activities of the Germans, Italians, and Japanese in the region;
- Ibn Sa'ud's allegiance to Britain and the Allies;
- Ibn Sa'ud's anxiety about Hashemite dominance in Syria and potential attack from hostile Arab nations;
- anti-Allied sentiment in the region;
- the financial and political contribution of the United States of America.
Other subjects covered by the volume are:
- the maintenance of law and order in the Kingdom;
- the presence of community feeling and national identity;
- Captain De Gaury's journeys in Saudi Arabia, including a report on agricultural development at Kharj, and the objection to his proposed tour of all of Arabia;
- Amir Sa'ud's trip to India for medical treatment;
- the anti-British activities of St John Philby and his subsequent arrest in India.
At the back of the volume (folios 177-186) are internal office notes.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (192 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged chronologically.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The sequence starts on the first folio and continues through to the inside back cover. The numbering is written in pencil, circled, and located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. The first three folios are marked 1A, 1B, and 1C respectively, then the sequence continues from 2 as normal. There is one other foliation system, written in pencil and inconsistent.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/572
- Title
- 'File 61/11 IX (D 159) Nejd-Hejaz Miscellaneous'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 1r:1v, 1br:1cv, 2r:43r, 44v:58v, 60r:166r, 166r:189v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence