'File 8/7 I Jidda Intelligence Reports' [‎117r] (233/536)

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^CLOSURE )N
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
2. Copies have been distributed as in the list appended to the report for
165. IBN SAUD remained in Nejd during the month. Early in August
the Amir Feisal left Taif, with his family, for Khurma, a village some distance
to the north-east, where he stayed for ten days before returning to Taif.
166. Fuad Bey Hamza, who left on the 12th July for the 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
Conference, remained abroad during August, and the Jedda office of the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs at the end of the month professed to have had no word as to
the date of his return (see paragraph 180 below). The Minister of Finance,
Sheikh Abdullah Suleiman, continued to deputise for him in various matters
passing between the Legation and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (see
paragraphs 177—9 below). He was in Jedda at the beginning of August and
again on the 24th. In between he spent a week in Nejd, where, however, so he
informed His Majesty’s Charge d’Aft’aires, he did not see the King.
167. The Amir of Jedda, Sheikh Abdul Aziz-bin-Muammar, left for
Riyadh on the 4th August and was still away at the end of the month. During
his absence Sheikh Ali Taha, the joint Deputy Governor and representative in
Jedda of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, was Acting Governor. Sheikh Abdul
Aziz, who is reputed to be that rare bird in Arabia—a bachelor—is popularly
supposed to have gone to Nejd to find a bride. Indeed, the lady designated by
Jedda Society newsmongers is a recently divorced wife of the King, for whom
the young Governor has long entertained an all but hopeless passion. It is also
averred, in less romantic circles, that the Amir has been called to Riyadh for a
consultation with the King. He broke his journey at Taif, one hears, and
accompanied the Amir Feisal on his way thence to Khurma.
168. (Reference paragraph 137.) The material which arrived recently for
the Hyderabad textile industry scheme was admitted into the country free of
customs duties by order of the Minister of Finance, and was forwarded early in
the month to Dr. Moin-ud-Din at Medina. The consignment, it is understood,
consisted of twenty-four bales of cotton, ten cases containing a total of
110 spindles and one case containing one hand-loom. It is reported that
Dr. Moin-ud-Din has already hired large premises in Medina in which to house
his scheme, has engaged about twenty hands, both local subjects and Indians, and
has had some eight dozen spindles made locally. Whether he will succeed in his.
project to manufacture “ Ihrams ” for the pilgrimage arouses a little mild
scepticism in some quarters.
169. The rumour regarding the Hasa Oil Concession “ loan ” mentioned in
the last sentence of paragraph 138 of the report for July proved to be well-
founded, for on the 20th August the sum of £35,000 gold in English sovereigns
arrived by the steamship Talodi. It was found impossible to land it that day.
EASTERN (Arabia).
CONFIDENTIAL.
September 27, 1933^ • ^ • j
Section 1.
Section
[E 5724/902/25]
No. 1.
Mr. Calvert to Sir John Simon.—{Received September 2/.)
January.
I have, &c.
A. S. CALVERT.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Jedda Report for August 1933.
I .—Internal Affairs.
[907 dd—1]
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