'File 8/7 I Jidda Intelligence Reports' [‎82v] (164/536)

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only, and comprised the provision of three emergency landing grounds and
seaplane anchorages on the Hasa coast for the use of service aircraft whenever
needed, the selection and preparation of the sites in consultation with experts
of the Royal Air torce, their maintenance in proper condition by the local
authorities under expert advice, their quarterly inspection by Royal Air Force
officers, permission for service aircraft to fly along and over' the coast-line, but
not inland, at any time, with a view to familiarising pilots with the terrain,
permission also for relief machines to use the grounds and anchorages, and, finally^
the conclusion of an agreement embodying these desiderata, valid for five years,
and terminable by either Government at six months’ notice thereafter. Prior to
addressing the Saudi Government on these lines, His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires
raised certain points for His Majesty’s Government’s consideration in
connexion with civilian aircraft, particularly those of Imperial Airways flying
the Far East route. It was not thought necessary to make provision for' the
former, while, as regards the latter, the Air Ministry considered the likelihood of
four-engined aircraft, which are flown under a policy of avoiding undue risk,
having to land on the Hasa coast as extremely remote. Their desiderata, confined
to service aircraft, were therefore conveyed to the Saudi Government in a note
dated the 13th December, which added that, in the improbable event of any 41
Imperial Airways machine having to make a forced landing. His Majestv’s
Government relied on the humane Saudi Arab Government to secure its safety.
A erial Trespass.
379. On the 5th December the Saudi Government protested against the
flight of a British aeroplane over Jubail on the Hasa coast on the 27th November.
It was eventually established that an Imperial Airways machine, obliged to fly
by night, had lost its way and flown over Jubail to get bearings. Regret has
been expressed to the Saudi Arab Government, who have been informed that
Imperial Airways were being warned scrupulously to avoid living over Saudi
territory.
Military Mission. ^' ^ 1L11ARY Matters.
380. The arrival of the two 1 urkish military officers foreshadowed in
paragraph 315 of the last report has been noted in paragraph 372. It is not
yet definitely known whether delivery of the 100 rifles and two mitrailleuses was
made at the same time. The Saudi military and air mission to Angora for
instructional purposes has not yet been finally formed. It is learned that the
two Turkish artillerymen, besides expressing disappointment at the lack of
facilities given them to inspect the old Ottoman pieces in the Hejaz. also
expressed surprise that the mission would consist of only ten to fifteen students
They seem to have expected fifty. It is believed that the Turkish Government
are, furthermore, prepared to meet all expenses, other than the cost of the
join ney ne\ei theless, there seems to be a hitch somewhere, for the mission is
materialising unaccountably slowly. It may be because of an uneasy feeling that
Wahhabi youth will be corrupted in Allah jess Turkey.
General.
381. Measures to crush the revolt in Asir and a supposed concentration of
Ikhwan northward in the direction of Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan have been reported in
chapter II.
British. VI.— Naval Matters.
382. No visits were paid by His Majesty’s ships to Saudi ports during
November and December. On the 17th November, H.M.S. Hastinqs
Captain C. S. Sandford) altered programme to visit Kamaran to get a somewhat
closer view of the troubles in Asir, but to avoid the Farsan Islands which lie
off the Asiri coast.
F oreign.
383. I he Italian navy was less tactful. Either on instructions from Rome
or Asmara, or on the commander’s initiative, one of the coastguard vessels
stationed in Eritrean waters visited Jizan on the 21st December without the
formality of previous warning and in the middle of the Asir revolt. After