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Coll 6/2 'Hejaz-Nejd: Italo-Hejaz-Nejd Treaty and Relations. Attitude of Saudi Govt during Italo-Ethiopian Dispute.' [‎8r] (16/368)

The record is made up of 1 file (182 folios). It was created in 9 Sep 1930-9 Aug 1938. It was written in English. 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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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Arabia).
June 20. 1938.
[E 3627/193/25]
CONFIDENTIAL.
4/5/
i’ 93 G
Section 2.
Copy No. 1
Sir R. Bullard to Viscount Halifax.—[Received June 20.)
(No. 107.)
My Lord,
Jedda, May 30. 1938.
IN my despatch No. 75, which 1 had the honour to address to you on the
21st April, I mentioned in the fourth paragraph that a flight of Saudi aeroplanes
to Wejh, which had been contemplated for some time, had been abandoned.
The project was revived, however, under the stimulus of the more generous
budget for the new year, and eventually a flight to Yanbu, though not to Wejh,
was effected. I understand that the flight might have been prolonged to W ejh,
only the landing ground there was not ready. Yanbu is about 175 miles from
Jedda in a straight line, measured on the map. and roughlv half as far as
Wejh.
2. Four machines took part in the flight. M. Naidyonoft piloted the
Bellanca, and Major Ciccu was in one of the Capronis with one of the Saudi
pilots. Two other Capronis were left to the entire charge of four Saudi pilots.
According to M. Naidyonoff all five Saudis took a hand at piloting, and the
take-off and landing were quite well done. Thus the Saudi Government now have
five pilots who can follow the coast to Yanbu and land without harm. A sixth
pilot, Abdullah-al-Mandili, who is as good as any of the others, was not on
this flight, having decided to go to Egypt to train for civil aviation.
3. The time of the flight is given in the press as two hours and ten minutes
going and two hours and a few minutes for the return journey. The press puts
the speed of the Capronis at 160 kilom. (100 miles) per hour, M. Naidyonoff at
150 kilom. Judging by the map I conclude the lower figure to be the more
probable.
4. It would appear that the Saudi policy of trying to weary the Italian
air mission out by neglect has recently changed to some extent. Interesting
evidence of this is afforded by two notices of the flight to Yanbu which appeared
in the same newspaper, the Saut-al-Hijaz. a week apart. The earlier report stated
that the first machine carried the Russian pilot, the second “ an instructor and
three engineers.” Thus, as on an earlier occasion reported a few months ago.
the Italian nationality of the instructor was suppressed. A week later the
Saut-al-Hijaz says: “There was missing from that account the name of the
Italian instructor who led the flight of aeroplanes and supervised the journey.”
It describes “ the Italian technical trainer. Signor Ciccu ” as giving the signal
to start, mentions the Italian “ engineers ” {i.e., mechanics), and puts the Russian
aviator last. It even transfers the Commandant and Officer Commanding
Aviation, Said-al-Hurdi, from the Bellanca, in which he travelled with the
Russian pilot, to Major Ciccii’s Caproni.
5. This later report bears out information which I had received from
M. Naidyonoff. to the effect that Major Ciccu was making determined efforts,
supported by the commandant, Said-al-Hurdi, to increase his influence. He did
not succeed in obtaining executive powers, as he wished to do, but he secured the
new French monoplane as an addition to his “ flight.” There are now, in theory,
two flights :—
(1) Major Ciccii—
3 Capronis.
2 Italian instructional machines.
1 new Caudron-Renault.
(2) M. Naidyonoff.
1 Bellanca.
1 old Caudron-Renault.
4.Wapitis (one completely repaired, one nearly ready, and two much
out of order).
[330 u—2 J

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Content

This file discusses relations between the Italian Government and the Hejaz-Nejd (later the Saudi Arabian) Government. It contains copies of Foreign Office correspondence, forwarded by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Under-Secretary of State for India. Included are the following:

  • Reports from His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires at Jedda, Cecil Gervase Hope Gill, on the progress of France's and Italy's respective treaty negotiations with Ibn Sa'ud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd].
  • Reports from the British Ambassador in Rome, Ronald William Graham, on press reports announcing the completion and terms of two treaties (a Treaty of Friendship and a Treaty of Commerce) between the Government of Italy and the Government of Hejaz-Nejd.
  • A copy of the treaty between the British Government and the Hejaz-Nejd Government [the Treaty of Jeddah of 1927].
  • Copies of translations of the two treaties between the Kingdom of Italy and the Kingdom of the Hejaz, Nejd and its dependencies, dated 4 April 1932.
  • Reports that the Italian Government has raised the status of its representation in the Hejaz and Nejd to that of a legation.
  • Copies of correspondence between Cecil Gervase Hope Gill's successor, Albert Spencer Calvert, and the Foreign Office, concerning Calvert's meetings with Ibn Sa'ud's representative, Shaikh Yusuf Yasin, during August-October 1935, over Saudi Arabia's attitude towards the Italo-Ethiopian dispute and eventual conflict (the Italo-Ethiopian War).
  • Copies of correspondence between the British Minister at Jedda, Andrew Ryan, and the Foreign Office, regarding the former's meetings with Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fuad Bey Hamza, during late 1935 and early 1936, over Saudi relations with Britain and Italy.
  • Reports on negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia.
  • Copies of telegrams from Andrew Ryan to the Foreign Office, recounting his meetings with Shaikh Yusuf Yasin during April-May 1936, regarding Saudi-Italian relations.
  • Details of gifts from the Italian Government to the Saudi Government, including arms and aeroplanes.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (182 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 183; 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. The leather cover wraps around the documents; the back of the cover has not been foliated. A previous foliation sequence, which is present between ff 4-182 and is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 6/2 'Hejaz-Nejd: Italo-Hejaz-Nejd Treaty and Relations. Attitude of Saudi Govt during Italo-Ethiopian Dispute.' [‎8r] (16/368), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2062, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100032582229.0x000011> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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