'File 61/11 VI (D 102) Hejaz-Nejd Miscellaneous' [‎35r] (90/522)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOYERNMANT
EASTERN (A rabia).
January 3, 1934.
CONFIDENTIAL.
S ection 2.
[E 77/77/25]
No. 1.
Mr. Calvert to Sir John Simon.—{Received January 3, 1934.)
(No. 360.)
Sir,
Jedda, December 12, 1933.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 352 of the 5th instant, relative to the
visit of an Egyptian commercial and financial mission, under the leadership of
Talaat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Narb, to this country, I have the honour to report that the members
of the mission left by air for Yenbu on the morning of the 10th December,
intending to journey by car thence to Medina and, returning the second day, to
resume their flight to Egypt.
2. The programme followed whilst they were in this country conformed
closely to that reported in my despatch under reference. Talaat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Narb
left Jedda by car on the 6th December for Mecca, where he was entertained by
Amir Eeisal, Sheikh Abdullah Suleiman and Sheikh Abdullah-bin-Muhammad-el-
Fadhl, and returned on the 8th, when he dined with Mr. and Mrs. Philby.
3. The results of the visit, in so far as they are known, or partially known,
may be stated under the following heads :—
(a) Banque Misr. —I am informed by the manager of Messrs. Gellatly,
Hankey and Co. (Sudan) (Limited), that his firm have been given, for the time
being, the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. of the Banque Misr as regards its purely banking business.
Mr. Warner expressed the opinion, however, that it would not be long before the
Banque Misr established a branch of their own in this country.
(b) Local Representation for Pilgrim Ships. —It is understood that this has
been given to the local firm of Messrs. Haji Abdullah Ali Ridha. It was stated
on the 8th December that, although no written agreement had at the time been
signed, yet Talaat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Narb had definitely promised the representation of this
shipping interest to the local firm. Mr. Warner, in this connexion, stated that
his firm had been given the handling of the money of Egyptian pilgrims, probably
qua agents of the Banque Misr.
.(c) Pilgrimage hy Air from Egypt—It is believed that this question has
received some consideration during the stay of the mission, though I am unaware
of the result, if any. I have received "the impression that the Saudi Arab
Government have not proved very receptive to this idea.
(d) Sale of Egyptian Products am not at present in possession of
information on the activities of the mission in regard to the organisation of the
sale of Egyptian products. The gratis distribution of such goods, to which I
referred in my last despatch, was, I find, not confined to the poor alone, but was
liberally used as commercial ground-bait in business circles as well.
4. I am sending copies of this despatch to the Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, Department of Overseas Trade, and to His Majestv's High
Commissioner in Cairo.
I have, &c.
A. S. CALVERT.
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