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'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎31r] (61/434)

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The record is made up of 1 file (214 folios). It was created in 31 Aug 1933-20 Mar 1939. It was written in English and French. 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. .

Transcription

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CONFIDENTIAL.
(D
(Received on 13th January 1934, ivith Political Secretary’s letter No. 52, dated
28th December 1933.)
Letter from the Admiralty, to 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. , No. M.-03685|33:, dated the 22nd
December 1934.
T am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit
for the information of the Secretary of State for India m Council, extracts from
a report of proceedings of H. M. S. Penzance, covering the period 10th—dOtn
November, 1933.
A copy has been sent to the Foreign Office.
Enclosure to Serial No. (1).
*
*
*
Extracts.
* *
*
*
*
Jed da.
8 The approach to Jedda was made without difficulty and the ship anchored
in the Inner Anchorage at 1100 on 18th November The flag of the country was
saluted with 21 guns, which was returned promptly by the shore Battei y.
9. Colonel Hamdi Bey called and presented the compliments of the country.
This officer fought in the'Great War as a Lieutenant in the Turkish Armv, ^anc
is now the Director of Military Training for the whole Kingdom of Sa udi-
Arabia. Though pleasant personally, it is difficult to imagine that he hits tins
important post with much zeal or ability. His predecessor, a more efficient
German-trained officer, was dismissed for corruption.
10. In the afternoon the Commanding Officer, accompanied by Mr. B. W.
Seager (British pro-Consul) called on Sheikh ’Ali Taha and Sheikh Ah A1
Amari, respectively the Acting and Assistant Governors of Jedda in the absence
of Sheikh Abdul Aziz ibn Mu’Ammar, who was engaged at Mecca m a matri
monial venture.
’Ali Taha is a Hedjazi who has spent 25 years in Civil Service, firstly
under the Turks, then under the Hashimite dynasty, and finally under the
present Wahabbi regime. His colleague is a Nedji.
The call of Colonel Hamdi Bey was then returned at the ez-Turkish barracks
at the outskirts of the town. The building appeared to be scarcely occupied ;
2 armoured cars were observed in the central courtyard, but were evidently m a
state of complete neglect.
11. The two Governors Returned the Commanding Officer’s call on Monday,
20th November, and were accorded a salute of 13 guns on their departure.
Accompanied by the Mayor of Jedda (Sheikh Ali Salami) and Mr. Seager
they lunched with the Commanding Officer on 22nd November.
12. Mr. K. S. Twitchell, the American Mining engineer, was in Jedda,
having recently returned from El Hasa, where he had been assisting the
Standard Oil Company of California in their prospecting operations, which
(erminated in the grant of an oil concession by the Sau’dian Government.
Mr Twitched made the journey across Arabia by car and lorry in seven days,
and since Mr. Philby has now embraced Islam, it is probable that he is the only
living Christian who has performed this feat.
13. As recently foreshadowed elsewhere, the affairs of Mr. H. St. J. B. Philby
and his Sharqieh Company are by no means flourishing, and it seems that the
terms of his concession for the importation of Ford cars and all motor tyres are
proving financially unsound. Mr. Philby himself was on a business journey to
Egypt.
14. It is understood that the large Soviet Legation, which holds itself much
aloof from the European community, does little business, and pays no attention
to the pilgrims from Russian territory. This may perhaps be due to the
official anti-God podcy of- the Soviet, and in this connection it is believed that
this attitude proves a definite commercial handicap when dealing with the
Wahabbi Kingdom, founded as it is so largely on a fanatically religious basis.
The same disability operates also in the Yemen.
Lc49FD

About this item

Content

The file contains the Foreign Office confidential prints of the Arabia Series for the years 1933 to 1938. It includes correspondence, memoranda, and extracts from newspapers. The correspondence is principally between the British Legation in Jedda and the Foreign Office. Other correspondents include British diplomatic, political, and military offices, foreign diplomats, heads of state, tribal leaders, corporations, and individuals in the Middle East region.

Each annual series is composed of several numbered serials that are often connected to a particular subject. The file covers many subjects related to the affairs of Saudi Arabia.

Included in the file are the following:

  • a memorandum on Arab Unity produced by the Foreign Office dated 12 June 1933 (author unknown), folios 11-13;
  • a memorandum on petroleum in Arabia produced by the Petroleum Department dated 5 August 1933 (author unknown), folios 23-26;
  • a record of interviews with Ibn Sa‘ūd, King of Saudi Arabia, conducted by Reader Bullard and George William Rendel between 20 and 22 March 1937;
  • a memorandum on Yemen by Captain B W Seager, the Frontier Officer, dated 20 July 1937;
  • several records of proceedings of ships on patrol in the Red Sea, including that of HMS Penzance , Hastings , Colombo , Bideford , and Londonderry .

Folios 213-15 are internal office notes.

Extent and format
1 file (214 folios)
Arrangement

The file is arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 217; 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 foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 2-215; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎31r] (61/434), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/310, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025548486.0x00003e> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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