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'File 61/11 VII (D 122) Hejaz-Nejd Miscellaneous' [‎75r] (162/454)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (223 folios). It was created in 23 Jun 1934-30 Apr 1936. 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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\ If
Jv i r—>/
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
U
x/
EASTERN (A rabia).
CONFIDENTIAL.
m:
February 12, 1935.
S ection 2.
[E 980/980/25]
No. 1.
Sir A. Ryan to Sir John Simon.—{Received February 12.)
(No. 27.)
Sir, Jedda, January 29, 1935.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 92 of the 23rd March, 1933, regarding
the relations between the Saudi Arab Government and the Soviet, I have the
honour to state that a Soviet official named Guertik has been attached for com
mercial work to the Soviet Legation here for three or four weeks past. I gathered
at first that he might be a permanent addition to the staff, but it now seems more
likely that he will not stay long and is merely on a tour of inspection. This is
borne out by a statement in the Aden Intelligence Report for the fortnight ending
the 2nd January that he is expected at Hodeida shortly. He is there described
as " inspector-general of Russian oil business."
2. The following is a summary of an account given of M. Guertik by the
local manager of Messrs. Gellatly, Hankey and Co. (Sudan) (Limited): He
appeared to be agreeable, unaggressive and less reserved than many Soviet officials.
He disclaimed any idea of launching a commercial offensive and declared ; " Je ne
veux pas la lutte." He discussed with Mr. Black the position in regard to certain
staple imports here and appeared to recognise that in some lines, e.g., sugar and
petrol, the Soviet trading organisations would find it difficult to compete in Saudi
Arabia at present prices. M. Guertik seemed to be interested in the marketing of
Soviet manufactured goods and actually sounded Mr. Black as to whether Gellatly,
Hankey and Co. (Sudan) (Limited) would accept an agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for their sale.
3. It may be worth mentioning that another Russian commercial expert
named Kondrachoff recently visited Jedda. He is a member of the Soviet Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
in the Yemen and stayed' here only a short time, awaiting an opportunity of
proceeding to Russia via Port Sudan.
4. Apart from the above facts, I have observed no recent signs of any special
activity on the part of the Russian Legation here. The Soviet Government may,
however, be planning a fresh commercial campaign and there have been some
indications of a desire on the part of the Legation to cultivate relations with the
powerful Saudi Minister of Finance. On the other hand, there was a story last
October that the Soviet Minister gave as one reason for hesitating to commit
himself to a ten years' contract for a house the possibility that his Government
might at any time abolish his post. i i? i o •
5. I take the opportunity of mentioning that the personnel ot the Soviet
Legation, not including M. Guertik, is now composed as follows : -
Nezir Turakoulov, Minister, Moslem, with a non-Moslem wife.
Shakir Ismailoff, Moslem, with wife, possibly Moslem.
Dr. Toukov-Rowanski, doctor, with wife, non-Moslems.
Morsen, dentist.
6. I am sending copies of this despatch to the Department of Overseas
Trade, His Majesty's Chief Commissioner, Aden, and to the Government of India
(Foreign and Political Department). ^ have &c
ANDREW RYAN.
[331 m—2]

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Content

The volume contains letters, telegrams, and memoranda relating to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Most of the correspondence is between the British Legation in Jeddah, the Foreign Office in London, the Political Residencies in Bushire and Aden, the Political Agencies in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Muscat, the High Commissioner in Trans-Jordan, the British Embassy in Baghdad, the Colonial Office in London, 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, the Government of India, and Ibn Sa'ud.

The volume covers a wide range of subjects, including:

  • the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, including issues of the translation of the Treaty of Taif;
  • the planning, development, and financing of roads;
  • the differing characters of two of Ibn Sa'ud's sons, Amirs Sa'ud and Faisal;
  • the appointment of new ministers in the Saudi Arabian government;
  • the slave trade in the region;
  • an Egyptian commercial and financial mission to the country led by Talaat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Harb;
  • a general amnesty for all 'political offenders' given by Ibn Sa'ud;
  • new regulations on foreign ownership of property;
  • Ibn Sa'ud's effort to improve the Saudi Arabian standing army;
  • the French upgrade of their Consulate in Jeddah to a Legation;
  • the general financial situation in Saudi Arabia;
  • the proposal to restore the Hejaz Railway, including the lead up to a conference on the matter in Haifa in October 1935;
  • an attempt on Ibn Sa'ud's life in Mecca;
  • Saudi-Soviet relations;
  • the activities of the Saudi Arabia Mining Syndicate;
  • Amir Sa'ud's visit to Europe;
  • the death of 'Abdullah ibn Jiluwi, Amir of Hasa;
  • the prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the League of Nations;
  • new Saudi regulations on the importation, sale, and possession of firearms;
  • officer training for Saudis and Yemenis in Iraq;
  • the introduction of a special import tax at Jeddah to fund local schools;
  • Anglo-Italian relations;
  • the proposal to renew the Treaty of Jeddah of 1927;
  • unrest in Hasa due to the imposition of a 'jihad tax' on those who did not take part in recent fighting on behalf of the Kingdom.

Notable in the volume is an interview with Fuad Bey Hamza, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, extracted from the newspaper Ayyam (folio 34).

At the back of the volume (folios 207-213v) are internal office notes.

Extent and format
1 volume (223 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The sequence begins on the first folio and continues through to the inside back cover. The numbers are 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'. side of each folio. There are the following irregularities: 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D; 88, and 88A; 165 and 165A. There is a second foliation system that is uncircled and inconsistent.

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English in Latin script
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'File 61/11 VII (D 122) Hejaz-Nejd Miscellaneous' [‎75r] (162/454), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/570, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023571187.0x0000a3> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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