'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎79v] (158/434)

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Enclosure 3 to Serial No. (1).
Letter from His Majesty’s Charge d’affaires, Jedda, to the Saudi Minister
for Foreign Affairs, No. 194 (2990/5/48), dated the 16 th November
1934.
I have the honour to inform Your Royal Highness that I learn from His
Majesty’s Ambassador at Baghdad that on the morning of October 26th Ihtee Royal
Air Force aeroplanes proceeding from Shaibah to Sharjah via Bahrain were forced
by engine trouble to one of the aircraft to land on Jinnah Island. I understand
that the defect was repaired and the aircraft proceeded to Bahrain the same
morning.
I should like to avail myself of this opportunity to express to Your Royal
Highness my sincere regret for this unavoidable violation of Saudi territory and
to explain that the unfortunate occurrence has only just been brought to the notice
of His Majesty’s Ambassador at Baghdad.
( 2 )
{Received on 29th December 1934, with Political Secretary's letter No. 50, dated the
13th December 1934.)
Letter from the Foreign Office, to the British Embassy, Baghdad.
No. P.Z. 7575/34, dated the 10th December 1934.
You may be glad to know that the Sheikh Hafiz Wahba, the Saudi Arabian
Minister m London, intends to spend about a week in Baghdad on his wav to
Saudi Arabia on leave.
We cannot say exactly when he will be in Baghdad, but he told Rendel he was
leaving London on the 3rd December and would travel via Palestine to Baghdad,
leaving Alexandria by rail on the 24th December. From Baghdad he is going to
Koweit, where he hopes to see Colonel Dickson, and from Koweit he will eo to
Riyadh.
(Copy sent to India, Bushire and Koweit.)
( 5 )
{Received on 20th January 1935, with Political Secretary's letter No. 53, dated the
3rd January 1935.)
Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter ho. E. 7507/170/25, dated 27th December
1934.
Letter from His Majesty s Charge d’affaires, Jedda, to the Foreign
Office, No. 34 (3035/5/52), dated the 24 th November 1934.
With reference to my despatch No. 341 (2992/5/49) of the 16th November
[Serial No. (1)], with which I transmitted to you a copy of my despatch No. 2991/5/
49 [Enclosure 2 to Serial No. (1)] of the same date to H. M. Ambassador, Baghdad,
1 have the honour to transmit to you herewith a translation of the Saudi Arab
Government’s reply to my note No. 194 of the 16th November (Enclosure 3, ibid)
regarding the violation of Saudi territory by three aeroplanes of the Royal Air Force
wffiich forced landed on Jinnah Island in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. on the 26th October last.
2 . The tone of the Saudi note, it will be observed, is stiff and a definite under
standing regarding incidents of this nature is regarded by the Saudi Arab Govern
ment as essential. That some hardening in their attitude was to be expected was
foreshadowed by Sir Andrew Ryan in his despatch No. 206 of the 3rd July last
[endorsement to Serial No. (6) in File No. 7-N/34)] and in an instance of this sort,
where a considerable delay supervened before the incident was brought to the notice
of H. M.’s Ambassador at Baghdad, is scarcely a matter for surprise.
3. I am at present unable to say when the discussion of this question is likely
to commence. Fuad Bey Hamza has not yet returned to this country and though
he might possibly arrive tomorrow, the Saudi Ministry for Foreign Affairs, I learn
to-day in connection with another matter, are still in ignorance of the date of his
arrival.
4. I am sending copies of this despatch and enclosure to His Majesty’s Ambas
sador, Baghdad, and to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire.