'File 8/7 I Jidda Intelligence Reports' [‎121v] (242/536)

2
steamship Jehangir for Jizan, and a further 200 left by dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. on the 18th and
succeeding days, although the latter were, according to Sheikh Abdullah Suleiman,
replacements only. Quantities of stores were both shipped and sent overland by
motor transport during the month. Amir Feisal-bin-Saad, nephew of the King,
was appointed Commander-in-chief for the present, with headquarters at Abha,
but might be superseded by the King’s eldest son, Amir Sand, should it become
necessary. On the 29th Sheikh Abdullah Suleiman again informed Mr. Calvert
that the situation remained much the same. Correspondence between the two
rulers had ceased with a curt and platitudinous acknowledgment by the Imam
Yahya of Ibn Saud's telegraphic exposition of his demands. There was no
cessation, however, of hostilities in Najran between local tribes and Imamic
troops. The Beni Yam had been reinforced by certain kindred tribal elements
from the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Dawasir, and were now gradually getting the upper hand and
were compelling the Zeidis to withdraw. The month has, therefore, seen no
improvement, and unless the efforts of distinguished Moslem leaders abroad, who
are reported to be offering to mediate, are unexpectedly successful, the prospects
are not such as to encourage much optimism.
197. Hamad Suleiman, brother of the Minister of Finance, and Khalid-bin-
Qarqani, members of the Saudi delegation to Sana, were due to arrive in Jedda
from Jizan at the end of September.
198 (paragraph 362 of 1932). The question of transit dues on goods
passing through Bahrein for the mainland of Saudi Arabia was carried a step
further when His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires, on the instructions of His
Majesty’s Government, informed the Saudi Arab Government on the 9th
September that, in view of Saudi unwillingness to accept a proposal to hold a
conference on the matter, the Government of Bahrein could see no alternative but
to terminate, as from that date, the customs arrangement of 1920 with Ibn Saud.
It was still considered that the proposal to hold a conference offered the best
prospects of arriving at a friendly settlement.
199. Informal communications, chiefly through Sheikh Abdullah Suleiman,
have passed between Mr. Calvert and Amir Feisal during the month regarding
the exchange of ratifications of 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 -Saudi Treaty, signed at
Jerusalem on the 27th July last (see paragraph 145). The Saudi Arab Govern
ment are inclined to insist on the exchange taking place at Jedda, but are
awaiting the return of Fuad Bey Hamza before taking up a final attitude, in
view of His Majesty’s Government’s desire to see the exchange take place at
Amman.
200. Telegrams were received on the 5th and 6th from 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
reporting the presence of a Saudi military post at Hazim, on 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
side of the frontier with Saudi Arabia. They were reported to be interfering
with passers-by and making use of the wells. Urgent representations were made
to the Saudi Arab Government, who replied that, pending a demarcation of the
frontier, they considered that Hazim lay exactly on the frontier line. A
subsequent telegram from 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 announced the withdrawal of the Saudi
military post by several miles into what was probably Saudi territory.
201. The Umm-al-Qura of the 15th announced that, upon the death of King
Feisal, telegrams of condolence were sent by Ibn Saud, Amir Saud and Amir
Feisal to King Ghazi and Rashid Ali, Prime Minister of Iraq, respectively, and
by Ibn Saud to Amir Abdullah 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 . Suitable replies were in each
case received.
202. The same issue of the Umm-al-Qura reported the visit of the Amir
Abdullah-bin-Qasim-bin-Thani of Qatar to Riyadh. The visit is represented
to have been a friendly one, undertaken with the object of congratulating Amir
Saud on his proclamation as successor to the throne, and the Amir is stated to
have been hospitably met and entertained by Ibn Saud and his family.
III .—Relations with Powers outside Arabia.
203. Anglo-Saudi relations continue friendly. Otherwise there is little
of interest to note. The Italian Charge d’Affaires has during the month been
endeavouring to obtain from the Saudi Government information on the situation
with the Yemen. He appears to have had little success so far, and on the
21st he suggested to Mr. Calvert, as from himself, that the Corps diplomatique