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'File 8/7 I Jidda Intelligence Reports' [‎30v] (60/536)

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The record is made up of 1 file (266 folios). It was created in Jul 1931-Dec 1934. 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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being considered. Subsequent articles intimated that the Government bad
received many applications for permission to open a road from Syria to
Jauf, which they were studying; and that over 2,000 pilgrims were expected
this year to travel overland from ’Iraq, though it was not yet settled which
route would be used.
24. The October number of the “Oriente Moderno” also mentioned the
project of a motor-route from Syria and ’Iraq via Najaf, stating that
Syrian, Persian and ’Iraqi pilgrims would be able to use it and thus escape
the vexatious Syrian and Egyptian quarantine regulations. An ’Iraqi
company would probably obtain the concession to run motor-services on the
route, in preference to the British company which was said to be applying.
25. The Hejaz Railway .—The Moslem Congress held at Jerusalem on
December 6th to 16th formed a Committee to study and report on the vexed
question of the Hejaz Railway. The Committee’s report was neither
accurate nor profound. The discussion of it was too inflamed to be serious
The following resolution was finally adopted : —
After hearing the report of the Committee on the Hejaz Railway and
perusing the documents relating thereto, the Congress declares
its resentment of the usurption of Moslem property, which
is essentially a Wakf. The Congress should approach Islamic
and other Governments in this regard and should empower
the Executive Committee to discuss other means for the re
covery of this line.
26 It remains to be seen what action, if any, Ibn Sa’ud will take.
27. Moslem Congress at Jerusalem.—On the 14th November, the Under
secretary for Foreign Affairs, under urgent instructions from Ibn Sa'ud,
requested His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires to ascertain His Majesty’s
Government’s attitude towards the proposed Moslem Congress. The Grand
Mufti of Palestine, luad Bey said, had invited the Hejazi. Government to
send a representative and leading persons, like himself and Sheykh Yusuf
Yasin, to attend. He stressed the probable anti-British and patently
anti-Sa’udi complexion of the conference and said that the King did not
Know whether to stand aloof and suffer the consequences or to send a repre
sentative to look after his interests. He did not like the agenda and was
confused by the fact of receiving an invitation from a Palestinian Govern
ment official. So he relied on a lead from His Majesty’s Government.
28. Fuad Bey was told on the 21st November in reply that His Majesty’s
Government regretted that they could not take the responsibility of advis
ing Tbn Sa’ud as to whether he should send delegates or not. He might,
however, be glad to know that His Majesty’s Government were in no way
associated with the proposal to hold the Congress and that it had neither
their encouragement nor support. Their attitude was one of detachment,
excepting in so far as regarded any possible reaction on public security in
Palestine. As for the Grand Mufti, he was no doubt acting as a religious
dignitary and not as a Palestinian' official.
29 A week later Fuad Bey was orally informed that, as a result of
recent conversations between the High Commissioner for Palestine and the
Grand Mufti, His Majesty’s Government did not anticipate that political
issues would be raised or that the proceedings of the Congress would cause
embarrassment to Ibn Sa’ud’s Government. Moreover the Grand Mufti
had given a specific assurance that the Caliphate question would not be
raised. Fuad Bey expressed gratitude for this information.
30 In the event, Ibn Sa’ud sent no delegate, his “Umm-al-Qura”
suobbed the Congress (although Fuad Hamza sent a message of support),
and the only questions inised at Jerusalem which appear to affect Ibn Sa’ud
were that of the Hejaz Railway, dealt with in paragraph 25 above; the
proposal that a committee be appointed in each Moslem country to raise

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Content

The file contains intelligence reports on the Kingdom of Hejaz, Najd and its Dependencies (after September 1932, Saudi Arabia) written by the British Legation at Jeddah.

Between July 1931 and December 1932 the reports are issued every two months, with the exception of the January-March 1932 and April 1932 reports. From January 1933 the reports are sent on a monthly basis.

Between July 1931 and December 1932, each report is divided into sections, numbered with Roman numerals from I to IX, as follows: Internal Affairs; Frontier Questions; Relations with States outside Arabia; Air Matters; Military Matters; Naval Matters; Pilgrimage; Slavery; and Miscellaneous. Each section is then further divided into parts relating to a particular matter or place, under a sub-heading. Some reports contain an annex.

From January 1933, when the reports become monthly, they take a new format. Each is divided into sections, as follows: Internal Affairs; Frontier Questions and Foreign Relations in Arabia; Relations with Powers Outside Arabia; Miscellaneous (often containing information on slavery and the pilgrimage).

Most reports are preceded by the covering letters from the Government of India, who distributed them to Political Offices in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and elsewhere, and the original covering letter from the Jeddah Legation, who would send them to the Government of India and Government departments in London. From May 1933, most reports were sent directly to the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain from Jeddah.

Up until January 1933, each report began with an index giving a breakdown of the sections with references to the corresponding paragraph number. From January 1933 onwards no index is included.

Extent and format
1 file (266 folios)
Arrangement

The file is arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are 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. An additional incomplete foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 6-11; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'File 8/7 I Jidda Intelligence Reports' [‎30v] (60/536), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/295, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025543724.0x00003d> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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