'File 19/109 VI (C 45) Bahrain Relations with Foreign Powers' [‎28r] (72/520)

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^ ^ nec f ssit 3 r fOT safeguards for pilgrims and asked for an
rS P i ^ ^ on j uls w . ere appointd, Ibn Sa'ud would be prepared to
^ 0nSllls ^ dommmns. Both points were clearly unpalatable to
the Sheikh who promised to submit the matter to the King but did not return to
the subject up to the end of February.
33. Money Order Agreement with India. —The Indian Posts and Telegraphs
Department intimated to the Hejazi Director General of Posts, etc., by a letter of
December 31 their readiness to waive the proposed claim in the Money Order
Agreement regarding interest on outstanding balances. Up to the end of Feb
ruary, however, the agreement was still unconcluded owing to difficulties of pure
form. ^
34. Hejaz Railway.—On February 6 Sheikh Yusuf Yasin expressed a wish
to discuss on some future occasion the question of the Hejaz Railway, which had
been in abeyance for a considerable time. He did not return to the subject up to the
end of the month. His Majesty's Government are not anxious to pursue this sub
ject unless it is forced upon them and Ibn Sa'ud's personal attitude is obscure, as
it is not certain how far he really wishes to raise the question or merely allows it to
be played with for the edification of Moslems.
35. Ihn Sa'ud's Buying Proposals.—Tha King's request that His Majesty's
Government should act as his intermediary for purchases in Great Britain [July-
August Report, Section 4 (c)] was carefully considered during and after Sir A.
Ryan's visit to England on leave. The conclusions reached were embodied in a
Foreign Office despatch of January 15 prescribing the reply to be returned.
Ibn Sa'ud was to be informed that His Majesty's Government could not act as
buyers on his behalf but they expressed willingness to give advice in connection
with particular transactions of importance, as they had done in the case of the Mar-'
coni wireless contract (September-November Report, Section 5). Sir A. Ryan
was to urge upon the King the desirability of doing business through estabhshed
houses. He was given discretion to point out the advantages presented in this
respect by Messrs. Gellatly Hankey & Company, an old-established firm with
wide connections and to impress on the King the importance of following sound
methods, as regards punctual payment, etc., if his Government wished to do business
with British firms on favourable terms. Owing to pressure of other affairs, these
instructions had not been carried out up to February 28,
36. France. —The negotiations for a Treaty between France and Hejaz-Nejd
were resumed when the Hejazi Ministry of Foreign Affairs returned to life at the
end of January. Progress appears to have been made but both sides have been
reticent. It is partly clear that France will not insist on the slavery article (Decem
ber Report, Section 11). The French Consulate hoped to find some way round the
difficulty over the Algerians at Medina, which is apparently not disposed of by
the new Law on Nationality (paragraph 56).
37. Italy. —The negotiations for a Treaty between Italy and Hejaz-Nejd were
also resumed early in the year. Italy also apparently intends to abandon the
slavery article. The Italgin Consul spoke to Sir A. Ryan vaguely of obtaining
some substitute for it in the form of a declaration by Ibn Sa'ud but gave no indica
tion of what exactly he had in view, if anything. Otherwise there has been much
reticence about these, as about the French negotiations.
38 Germany .—The German Government apparently decided some little time
ago to make Herr de Haas [September -November Report, Section 18 {h)l Consul
at Jedda, but he had not up to the time of writing made any communication tq
his future foreign colleagues. He is without official experience and may be having
difficulties in getting his position clear with the Hejazi Government. There are
two versions, one that he wished to present credentials of some sort to the King ;
the other that he has applied for and is awaiting an exequateur. Meanwhile he
appears to be a somewhat enterprising business man and has been first favourite
in the competition for the Government benzine contract, formerly held by Messrs,
Gellatly Hankey & Company on behalf of Shell, but not renewed for 1931.
E gypt.
QQ Pny »prn1 —The Egyptian Consul is understood to have continued his con-
veJL"* view toa^ settlement between Heiaz-Nejd and Egypt. A few
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