'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎106r] (211/434)

Memorandum No. 154 (2426/143/35), dated the 9th October 1935.
His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires at Jedda presents his compliments
to H. E. the Viceroy of India (F. & P.), and has the honour to transmit
to him the under-mentioned documents.
To Foreign Office despatch No. 281 of 9th October 1935, regarding
Activities of Banque Misr.
Enclo. to S. No. (59).
Letter from H. M.’s Charge d’affaires, Jedda, to the Foreign Office,
No. 281 (2424/143/35), dated the 9th October 1935.
The interest evinced in the Hejas by the Banque Misr, particularly
in regard to the promotion and development of Egyptian interests in the
annual pilgrimage, have been the subject of report by the Legation from
time to^ time. The relations established with the Saudi authorities by
Talaat Harb Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. on his visits to this country in the latter end of both
1933 and 1934, have been maintained, and Sheykh Abdullah Suleyman
in spending some time recently in Egypt, on his way to Syria and possibly
Turkey, recorded in Jedda Reports for August and September, paragraphs
253 and 286 respectively (F.-92-N./33), is with good reason believed to
have been animated by a desire to cultivate those relations still further.
2. That the Minister of Finance has been to some extent successful
would appear from the arrival at Jedda on the 1st October by one of the
small vessels of the Societe Misr de Navigation Maritime, now plying in
the Red Sea, of a consignment of fifty-four barrels of Shell asphalt for the
purpose of laying down an experimental stretch of road on the main Jedda-
Mecca highway. A Greek engineer and an Egyptian, said to represent
Talaat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Harb, arrived by the same ship and several days earlier, by
a Khedivial Mail vessel, a mixing machine for use in road construction
was also landed here on behalf of the Banque Misr.
3 . The two representatives of the Egyptian concern have, since their
arrival, lost no time in getting to work, and operations have already com
menced outside the Medina Gate of Jedda. It is credibly stated that a
kilometre of asphalted road will be laid down at the expense of Banque
Misr, except for the labour which is being supplied by the Saudi authorities.
I am confidentially informed by the Manager of Messrs, Gellatly, Hankey
& Co. (Sudan) Ltd., that it is estimated that the cost of laying down the
whole Mecca-Jedda road under asphalt would be in the neighbourhood of
£45,000, or £1,000 a mile. Mr. Courtenay, who as the representative
of the Shell Company here is much interested in this project, also informed
me that Signor Odello, the soi-divant Italian merchant, made an effort
to induce the Greek engineer to use Italian asphalt instead of the Shell
product, but without success.
4 . I am sending copies of this despatch to the Department of Overseas
Trade, the Government of India and Egypt.
( 60 )
Memorandum No. 173 (2698/153/9), dated the 5th November 1935.
His Majesty’s Charg£ d’Affaires at Jedda presents his compliments to
H. E. the Viceroy of India (F. & P.), and has the honour to transmit to
him the under-mentioned documents.
To Foreign Office, despatch No. 315 of 5th November 1935, regarding
return of Fuad Bey Hamza to the Hejaz.
470(C) P&PD.