'File 61/11 VI (D 102) Hejaz-Nejd Miscellaneous' [‎240r] (506/522)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BHITANKIC MAJESTY'S GOYERMMEMT
im v
EASTERN ( A rabia ). ^ June 14, 1932.
CONFIDENTIAL. ^ ^"
S ection 1.
>/i 5
[L 3157/133/405] No. 1.
Mr. Hope Gill to Sir John Simon—{Received June 14.)
[Enclosures not printed.]
(No. 213.)
Sir, Jedda, May 18, 1932.
WITH reference to Sir A. Ryan's despatch No. 255 of the 3rd July last,
regarding the proposed compendium of the constitutional laws of the world, I
am at length in a position to furnish a reasonably comprehensive survey of the
constitutional measures affecting the Hejaz and Nejd and its Dependencies which
have been promulgated since the establishment of the Saudian regime.
2. In his despatch No. 272 of the 20th October, 1929, Mr. Bond enclosed a
translation of the Hejazi 1926 Constitution, or "Organic Instructions" or
"Fundamental Rules," as it is also sometimes styled. I have the honour to
transmit herewith, marked "A," an amended translation which has now been
made from an Arabic text of the Constitution communicated to this Legation by
the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
3. The first important change in the Constitution occurred on the
29th January, 1927, when the Sultanate of Nejd and its Dependencies was made
a kingdom and was formally united with the Hejaz under Ibn Sand as King of
the Heiaz and of Nejd and its Dependencies. A translation of the text of the
Royal decree as published in the " Umm-al-Qura of the 8th April, 1927, is
attached marked ^ ^ -B.'
4. In June 1927 a Committee of Inspection and Improvement was
constituted by Royal command. A translation of the .relevant extract from the
" Umm-al-Qura " of the 1st July is attached, marked " C."
5 On the 9th July 1927, and on the recommendation of this committee,
articles 28 to 31 of Part IV of the Constitution regarding the Legislative
Assembly were modified. A translation of the amending regulation published
in the " Umm-al-Qura " of the 15th July is attached, marked D.
6 In July 1928 this regulation was superseded by a similar regulation,
which made no reference, however, to its predecessor, but only to Part iv o± the
Constitution. A translation of the text of the new regulation as ^published i
the " Umm -al-Qura " of the 13th July, 1928, is attached, marked K
7 An undated regulation conceiving the Directorate-General of Finance
and referring- bv implication only, to articles 20 to 22 of the Constitution, was
published in the Umm^al-Qura of the 21st September, 1928. A translate
is attache , ^ ^930 the Pilgrimage Committee, as defined by article 14 of
the Constitution, was modified by Royal c t 7™ a t f nr 4 p t ! an 1 t3ri S attached
published in the "Umm-al-Qura" of the 5th October, 1930, is attached,
marked ^ a ."Ministry" for Foreign Affairs was established
by Royal command ' c^tbe Con^n' " a [ritZtion oT thfte^
the 19th December. 1930, is attached,
marked ^ , ,932 a Council of Ministers was constituted by an undated
10. In january ^w a vaiui , January, a translation of
decree published m the Umm-al Qura ot tne ^ ^ ^ of ^
which was transmitted to you unaer ^ , /1X o :L.: n i 0 a n f thp Cnnstitution
5th March. This decree incidentally affec e ( | , Office- (2) article 11 by
by modifying and defining the functions o In e terior . ^ ^ ; rticle 27 of'the
mentioning a new Ministry, thatof affa ' irg in the p res idency of the
Constitution, by vesting control of y r was added to the
Council instead of in the person ot tne ivmg.
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