'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎90r] (179/434)

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m the existing syndicate, a holding for which the Government were even prepared
to pay. (b) The Government is to receive 5 per cent, of any gold eventually extrac
ted. (c) Customs duty is to be paid at a flat rate of 10 per cent, on all material,
etc., impoited. (d) The area finally agreed on under the concession is, roughlv, the
whole of the Hejaz and Asir as far south as Birk, with the exception of certain re
served areas, notably about the Holy Cities. This general description was gi ven by
Mr. Philby, who said that the area first approved by the King extended as far as
meridian 44 degrees, thus including a considerable slice of Nejd, but that it was
later decided to set the eastern limits much more to the west. Mr. Twitched, who
did not allude in any detail to this point, expressed himself generally as quite satis
fied with the area actually allotted, (e) The agreement, according to Mr. Twitched,
must be ratified by the syndicate, after which it will be published.
3. It is gathered that Mr. Twitched is to be joined by M. Van de Pod, the
D itch Moslem who has for some years resided in this country, where formerly he
had commercial interests in work connected with the concession, although presum
ably in some non-technical capacity. Mr. Twitched left Jedda for Egypt and
Syria on the 26th December and is understood to be actively engaged m making
arrangements for prospecting, and, if a report from Messrs. Gedatly, Hankey k Co
that a large consignment of pit-props has been ordered tnrough them by Mr.
I witched is to be believed, for early mining operations as wed.
^ ^ am sending a c opy of this despath to the Principal Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, Department of Overseas Trade.
(25)
Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter dated 21st March 1935.
{Received on 13th April 1935, with Political Secretary's letter No. 13, dated 28th
February 1935.)
Letter from His Majesty’s Minister, Jedda, No. 67 (560/9/9), dated the 2nd
March 1935.
With reference to Mr. Calvert's printed despatch No. 345 of the 26th November,
regarding the repayment by' the Saudi Government of expenses incurred by
H.M.S. I enzance in respect of telegrams sent on behalf of that Government
during the Saudi-Yemen hostilities, I have the honour to inform you that I have
now received from the Minister for Foreign Affairs a draft fo/ three hundred
and four pounds seven shillings and eleven pence, which represents the full amount
claimed by the Admiralty less the sum of seventeen pounds eight shillings and four
pence already refunded.
2 . This sum will be credited to the Admiralty in the accounts of this Lega
tion with the Foreign Office for the current quarter.
3. I am sending a copy of this despatch to the Senior Naval Officer, Red Sea
Sloops.