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'File 61/11 VI (D 102) Hejaz-Nejd Miscellaneous' [‎4r] (20/522)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (259 folios). It was created in 2 Feb 1931-30 Aug 1934. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
f —- • •
NCY.
EASTERN (A rabia). i A*
Dm ll'hy ^
November 21, 1933.
CONFIDENTIAL.
OSWiC , t^ilAt «Q0S6» i
Section 4.
[E 7095/6509/25]
No. 1.
Mr. Calvert to Sir John Simon.—{Received November 21.)
(No. 325.)
Sir,
Jedda, October 31, 1933.
I HAVE the honour to inform you, in somewhat greater detail than I was
able to give in my telegram No. 182 of the 27th October, of my interview with
the Minister of Finance on that day, relative to the successful request of
M. Roger Maigret, French Charge d'Affaires, to be allowed to visit Ibn Saud at
2. M. Maigret, as was recorded at paragraph 183 of Jedda Report for
August, left on the 9th August for Syria, where, it is understood, he passed the
whole of his leave of absence. According to a statement of a member of the
French Legation here to Mr. Furlonge, he was expected to return by a French
naval despatch-boat, which was calling at Beirut on its way to the Red Sea. His
return was due almost any day, when I received Sheikh Abdullah Suleiman's
request for an interview on the 27th October. As I have reported, his Excellency
informed me that he had been instructed by the King at Riyadh, through Amir
Feisal at Mecca, to bring to my notice that M. Maigret had approached Fuad Bey
Hamza, whilst the latter was in Syria, with a view to obtain the King's permission
to pay a private visit to Nejd upon his return to this country. Upon his return
from abroad, Fuad Bey Hamza had placed this request before His Majesty, who
had been pleased to accede to it. Sheikh Abdullah Suleiman went on to say
that M. Maigret was expected the following day and would leave for Nejd at
once, and again referred to the private and personal nature of the visit, and
alluded to M. Maigret's wish to see the country. He added that, should anything
transpire during this visit not of a strictly private character, I should learn of
it in due course from Fuad Bey Hamza himself. In reply to a question, he said
that the French Charge d'Affaires' interview with the King would take place at
Riyadh or perhaps somewhere in the vicinity.
3. The following morning, the 28th, the French naval despatch-boat Yfres
duly arrived, but no M. Maigret was observed to come ashore. From information
subsequently received it would appear he was not on board, and I now learn that
he is expected on or about the 5th November.
4. It is unprecedented for a foreign representative in Jedda to be allowed
not merely to pay a visit to Nejd, but to be accorded an interview by Ibn Saud
in his desert fastnesses at Riyadh. Whether it is fanciful to read, or attempt to
read, into this rather startling piece of information more than its superficial
meaning I am at present unable to decide. M. Maigret, in September 1932, paid
a visit to Taif—an achievement in its way, though of no special significance—and
also, I believe it is true to say, that he takes an intelligent, if not scholarly,
interest in matters pertaining to the Arab world. This, however, seems scarcely
adequate as a reason, and the alacrity, almost, with which his desire in this
instance has been granted does little to dispel one's doubts as to the reasons for
this so-called private visit. The cloak of privacy is often the most useful wear in
the more delicate dealings with Eastern minds, and the news when it becomes
generally known will be, I believe, thus construed.
5. In my telegram under reference I have drawn attention to the fact that
this meeting at Riyadh will, if it occurs, form a precedent which other foreign
representatives, not least the Soviet Minister, may welcome. It will be interesting
to observe whether, indeed, they make any attempt to follow where M. Maigret is
so unexpectedly leading the way.
6. I am sending copies of this despatch to His Majesty's consul-general at
Beirut and to His Majesty's consul at Damascus for information.
\ Riyadh.
I have, &c.
A. S. CALVERT.
[963 x—4]

About this item

Content

The volume contains two original files bound together. The first file (folios 1A-207) has the original reference 61/11 VI (D 102) and covers the period 7 November 1933 to 30 August 1934 and relates to Hejaz-Najd affairs. The second file (folios 208-243) has the original reference 61/6 VII (D 95) and covers the period 2 February 1931 to 5 August 1932 and relates to Najd affairs. Both contain letters, telegrams, memoranda, and reports sent 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 High Commissioner in Baghdad (later the British Embassy following Iraqi independence in 1932), the Colonial Office in London, the Government of India, and Ibn Sa'ud.

The main subject of the first file is the territorial dispute between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Contained in the volume are papers concerning Saudi Arabian advances into the territories of 'Asir and Yemen and the subsequent Treaty of Taif that largely settled the dispute. There is also coverage of diplomatic conversations between Italy and Britain regarding the dispute, including secret talks in Rome. Included is the full Arabic text of the Treaty (folios 143-150A) and an English translation (folios 156-177).

Other subjects covered in the first file are:

Notable documents contained in the volume are a report on the heads of foreign missions in Jeddah, and a revised (June 1934) report on the leading personalities in Saudi Arabia.

The subjects covered by the second file are:

  • details and significance of a resurgence in war dancing by the Saudis;
  • the visit of Charles Crane to see Ibn Sa'ud;
  • a request for military assistance made by Saudi Arabia to Turkey;
  • the conditions of entry into Hasa for Hindu merchants.

At the end of each file are several pages of internal office notes.

Extent and format
1 volume (259 folios)
Arrangement

Each of the two separate files which make up the volume is arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The sequence starts 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 anomalies: 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D; 11A and 11B; 24A; 30A; 132A; 143A; 150A; and 236A. There are two other sequences, both uncircled and incomplete.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 61/11 VI (D 102) Hejaz-Nejd Miscellaneous' [‎4r] (20/522), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/569, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023576504.0x000015> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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