'File 8/7 I Jidda Intelligence Reports' [‎79v] (158/536)

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in the Saudi Govei’iiment’s view, ai’e covered by the circular described in
paragraph 338.
Economics.
341. A proposal has been made to Ibn Sand by some leading Nawabs and
other wealthy men of Hyderabad State to start, at their own expense and by
sending experts from India, a cotton-spinning and weaving industry in the
Hejaz. They hope by this means to counteract some of the helpless poverty which
so shocked them when they were on pilgrimage last spring. The scheme owes
much to the initiative and advice of the Indian vice-consul, and he was entrusted
with the delivery, on the 17th December, of the promoters’ letter to Ibn Saud
through the hand of the Minister of Finance. If the scheme can be made to show
profit to either of these last two, its political objections may, perhaps, be
outweighed.
342. A railway scheme is reported in paragraph 346.
Legislation.
343. The “ Regulation respecting the Ministry of Finance ” completed
publication in the local press. A “ Regulation governing Motor-car Drivers ”
was similarly published in November. It enacts, amongst other necessary rules,
that, “ if camels are dismayed at the voice of the horn, the driver must stop the
voice of the horn and the motor until they have cleared from the way before him.”
A “ Decree concerning the Departure of Debtors,” a busy instrument, was also
published in November. On the 25th November, under instructions from His
Majesty’s Government, His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires informed the Saudi
Arab Government that, in view of the local “ Coastal Fisheries Regulation of
July 1932,” in which Saudi Arab territorial waters were defined as extending
4 miles from shore. His Majesty’s Government must reserve all their lights in
international law in respect of waters outside the 3-mile limit.
Nationality Law.
344. Having discovered by their summer census (see paragraph 237) who in
the Hejaz claimed foreign nationality, the Saudi Government set a committee to
work in Mecca in late October and early November to summon those people and
demand documentary proof of their nationality. Since the committee was
reported to be holding on to such passports as were presented and giving those
who had none only fifteen days in which to get them, failing which, they were told,
they must either adopt Hejazi nationality or quit the country within three
months, His Majesty’s Charge d'Affaires enquired of the Saudi Government as to
the true nature of the committee's powers. Whereupon the matter was referred
to Riyadh and Mr. Hope Gill was assured by Fuad Bey Hamza, on the
16th November, that as far as he knew the report was incorrect. Be that as it
may, the committee has not resumed work.
Waqfs.
345. The ‘ ‘ Auqaf-al-Harameyn ” Association pursued in November,
through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Legation, the matter of a
valuable Waqf bequest, which is said to be immobilised in Rangoon.
Communications.
346. An Indian doctor from Madras, named Jeelani, who, while on
pilgrimage earlier in the year, became imbued with ideas of the need for and
commercial possibilities of a railway from Jedda to Mecca, returned in December
with a cut-and-dried scheme raised by a firm of Madras engineers on the basis of a
1917 sketch-map, which omitted Mecca, 1920 pilgrimage figures, and contem-
porary Indian costs of labour and construction. The doctor seeks a concession
from Ibn Sand to build and run this railway, and is ready to give the latter a
share in the profits. The latter is holding out for a share in the gross receipts
instead. AVhen he gets the concession. Dr. Jeelani will look for the capital, to
the tune of 40 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees (£300,000). He is already a very old man.