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'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎85r] (169/434)

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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. .

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13
rv
(g)
c
5. The revenue, which in the despatch under reference was represented as
exiguous, has probably shown some improvement, but not of a nature to offset
expenditure. The pilgrimage of 1934 exceeded 25,000, in comparison with 20,000
of the year before and pilgrim dues to the Government and activity in the bazaars
were stimulated in proportion. The prospects for the forthcoming pilgrimage are
still conjectural, but it may not be excessive optimism to expect a slight increase
again in 1935. The remarks in last year’s report in regard to the general level of
poverty of latter-day pilgrims still apply, although the efforts of Talaat Harb
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , upon whose activities I have reported elsewhere, are directed towards in
ducing Egyptians of the wealthier sort to perform the Haj.
6. Customs receipts are still one of the several urkown factors in Saudi Arabia’s
economic equation. One might perhaps hazaid the opinion that there has this
year been a slight improvement. The small increase in the pilgrimage and the
partial liquidation of old stocks of goods in the hands of local merchants must have
exerted a favourable influence. Receipts, however, are mortgaged as has been
now the practice for some years by the system of drafts to which a reference was
made in the despatch under reference.
7. The Saudi Government’s revenue has been augmented this year, it is
stated, by the receipt during the early summer of £20,000 gold from the Standard
Oil Company of California, a sum believed to represent the second instalment of
the initial loan promised by the company under the terms of their Hasa oil con
cession. A further loan, said to be very small, is reported to have been obtained
in November from Talaat Harb Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , and is thought probably to be secured on
Saudi pilgrim dues, which will be paid by Egyptians during the forthcoming Haj.
Mr. Philby, at any rate, was made happy by being paid “ £2,000 or £3,000,” half in
cash and half in a draft on Messrs. Haji Abdullah Ali Ridha and Co., confidential
agents and importers to the Saudi authorities, not in respect, I understand, of out
standing debts, but to finance the import of motor vehicles in accordance with his
concession.
8 . Indeed, the position of the Saudi Government in regard to both their
internal and foreign, obligations is'as unsatisfactory as ever. Certainly no attempt
has been made during the year under review to meet the long outstanding debts
due to His Majesty’s Government and the Government of India, and Ibn Saud
appears unlikely to manifest any great readiness to do so in the near future.
9. The Minister of Finance has continued to pursue a policy of rigid economy
in Government expenditure, although the opinion has been heard that money, for
day to day requirements of an essential nature, is not so tight as was the case a
year ago. Official salaries are still seriously in arrear and for more than the first
six months of the Arabic year 1353 (until the end of October) Government servants
had received a bare two months’ salary, and that at the “ par ” rate of 10 rials to
110 piastres miri gold (£l gold), whereas the current rate for rials had fluctuated
between 24 and 22 rials to the gold pound.
10. Saudi currency during the year has remained relatively steady and did not
show any marked tendency to depreciate after the last pilgrimage, as I anticipated
in my despatch under reference. The rial rate varied with in the limits indicated
above, and at the time of writing is 22, betraying again the customary appreciation
which marks the arrival of pilgrims from abroad.
11. The general tone of trade in theHejaz is stated to be somewhat healthier,
the manager of the Dutch banking concern here, the Nederlandsche Handel-Maats-
chappij, stating that during the past year there had been slightly more movement
and much less reluctance on the part of merchants to take up bills. This applied
particularly to the past six months. I am indebted to him for the following figures
compiled by himself and, he insists, very tentative, of the imports and exports for
the Arabic years 1351 and 1352 :—
1351. 1352.
£ sterling. £ sterling.
Imports 2,028,000 1,657,850
Exports .. . • • • • • . • • • 150,685
Piece-goods and flour, amongst the more important commodities, showed an in
crease' in 1352 over 1351, most others falling away in the second year. The number
MS89FL>
D

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' [‎85r] (169/434), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/310, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025548486.0x0000aa> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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