Skip to item: of 391
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'File 61/11 IX (D 159) Nejd-Hejaz Miscellaneous' [‎44r] (98/391)

This item is part of

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

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

arms, and finally became King in name over the land, while in fact he governed
it merely as a viceroy for the British, executing their policy and submitting to
their wishes.
When Ibn Saud had become King of the Hejaz thanks to British gold and
munitions, he assumed that it was his hereditary domain, and we, its people, serfs
bound to the land. He behaved like a landlord on his own estate and we became
his slaves and the slaves of his slaves; our wealth, our livelihood, our honour lay
at his mercy.
Do you not see the Government departments swarming with Nejdis—whose
only qualification for office is that they are Nejdis? Do you not know that a
Nejdi official is paid—out of your money—many times the salary that a Hejazi
of the same grade receives ? Are you not aware that a Hejazi can work in the
Government service and never get"his pay, little as it is, while a Nejdi gets an
exorbitant salary and increments and bonuses—all out of the monev of the
Hejaz is ?
Has no one ever told you that it is the Hejazis who pay the taxes ? That they
are forbidden to move from place to place in their own country unless they pay
a tax? That, on the other hand, the Nejdis can travel about freely wherever
they care ?
Have you never heard that the Hejazis are the milch-cow from which Ibn
Saud and his men and the sons of Nejd draw their profits, and when the milch-
cow's milk runs dry these tyrants wilfsuck her blood?
0 Brothers, the days of contempt and submission and surrender are done.
The real intentions of the tyrants are revealed to you. You know now the
character and aims of Ibn Saud. Prepare for the approaching battle, the battle
that will give you the chance to die for glory and freedom.
Brothers, "the Free Hejazis" speak to every Hejazi who has sentiments
of honour and patriotism. We ask every compatriot to prepare for the
approaching day when we shall sweep away the tyranny of exploitation and
write with our blood a golden line in the history of the Hejaz.
Brothers in freedom, prepare !
Enclosure 2.
Summary of a Letter from the Amir Ahdullah-hin-al-Hussein, dated at Amman,
(th Jumada I Ula, 1358 {June 25, 1939), to Sheikh Kamil-al-Qassah.
(Salutations.)
I WAS very pleased to receive your letter dated at Damascus, 3rd JumadaT
ula, 1358. You mention that my letter has reminded you of the time when we
used to talk so much together about the future of the Arab nation. You say that
I am well aware that you were the first person to develop the idea of uniting
the Arabs, and that you put this idea before His late Majesty more than once
when you were in Mecca, begging him to communicate with the Arab Princes
and offering yourself as an intermediary. The late King was not inspired to
adopt the idea, but, nevertheless, we are grateful to you for your efforts.
(Here follows a recapitulation of the history of the Arab revolt against the
lurks, the prominent part played therein by the addressee; King Hussein's
attitude towards Ibn Saud, the Idrisi and British interests in Arabia at that
time.)
Regarding your proposal that, should the moment be opportune, we should
make a general pact with the Saudi Kingdom, the Yemen and Iraq of such a
nature as to guarantee the independence of these States and of Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan , in
which proposal (you say) you have no doubt that His Majesty King Ibn'Saud will
assist us, he being so sincere in his piety and devotion to the national cause, I
tnank you warmly and declare that I am perfectly prepared to follow your advice
on condition that you request His Majesty in your name and in the name of the
religion and nationalism to which he is so devoted to institute general reforms
m the Hejaz and Nejd by granting a Constitution such as will ensure a regular
constitutional Administration in the country, as in Iraq and Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan ^ and
will protect the people's liberties, draw up a public budget, set up a Ministry

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

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'File 61/11 IX (D 159) Nejd-Hejaz Miscellaneous' [‎44r] (98/391), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/572, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023555604.0x000063> [accessed 28 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023555604.0x000063">'File 61/11 IX (D 159) Nejd-Hejaz Miscellaneous' [&lrm;44r] (98/391)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023555604.0x000063">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x000221/IOR_R_15_1_572_0098.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x000221/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image