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Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎24v] (49/540)

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The record is made up of 1 file (268 folios). It was created in 18 Apr 1931-18 May 1945. 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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20
be difficult for Ibn Baud to draw back. A much longer step, however, has been
marked by the interview granted to Mr. Philby on the 12th August, wmc
appeared in the November number of the Oriente Moderno. Apart from the two
pronouncements which have been quoted in paragraph 58 above, the King ma e
a very damaging comparison between our concern for the Jews m Germany ana
what he considers our indifference to the rights of the Arabs m Palestine. How
can Europe, he asks, criticise Germany and other countries for driving out Jews
from territories where they form a majority, and find nothing to criticise in an
attempt to drive out the Arabs from their own country in order that the Jews
may live there?
76. It was after Ibn Baud had made this criticism that partition was
abandoned, and that the invitation to the London discussions indicated a change
in the policy of His Majesty’s Government towards Palestine, and still later (the
24th November) that the speech of the Secretary of State for the Colonies showed
how sincere was the desire of His Majesty’s Government that full weight should
now be given to the views and feelings of the Arabs. From Ibn Baud s point of
view the prospect now looks promising, but if nothing comes of the discussions
his position will no longer be what it has been hitherto. After supporting the
Arab case in London, as on the whole he must do, and after his pronouncements
in the press, he cannot slip back into silence. To what extent he has given the
Palestine rebels secret help in the way of arms and money is mainly a matter of
conjecture; but if the policy adopted by His Majesty’s Government after the
London discussions is not, on broad lines, satisfactory to the Arabs, we must not
be surprised if Ibn Baud becomes openly hostile, however much it would go against
the grain with him to embark upon an open quarrel with His Majesty’s
Government.
Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan .
77. Among the propaganda about Palestine which was introduced into the
Hejaz during the pilgrimage season were photostat copies of what purported to
be and apparently was a letter from the Amir Abdullah to the High Commissioner
for Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan at Jerusalem, setting forth the Amir’s suspicions of the policy of
Saudi Arabia. This letter, which was written during the Saudi-Yemen war,
described the foreign policy of Saudi Arabia as being run mainly through
Fuad Bey and and Sheikh Yusuf Yasin by extremists like the Mufti and Shakib
Arslan, and as being aimed at the Yemen in the first instance and, secondly, at
Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan . Moreover, it accused these persons as having connexions with
“ two European Powers who for a long time have had great ambitions on the
Red Sea coast.” A copy of this photostat was given to His Majesty’s Minister
by Fuad Bey without comment. As propaganda it was probably very effective
with Ibn Baud, who must have resented strongly the assumption that he did not
run the foreign policy of Saudi Arabia but was a cat’s-paw in the hands of
Fuad Bey and Sheikh Yusuf Yasin.
78. An incident which occurred in January will not have enhanced the
reputation of the Amir Abdullah as a sensible man in the eyes of Ibn Saud. The
Amir telegraphed to Ibn Saud asking whether the dues could be remitted on
about 150 pilgrims who wished to proceed to Mecca by land. Ibn Saud replied
that the dues were fixed by law, but that he would pay the dues on the pilgrims in
question out of his own pocket provided that the Amir would guarantee them—
meaning guarantee that they would behave themselves and would not become
destitute. The Amir took this grand seigneur reply quite calmly and accepted the
financial offer, and said that he would find guarantors but that most of the
pilgrims were Syrians. As Syrians are not under the Government of Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
and the Amir obviously could not guarantee them, Ibn Saud asked for the help
of His Majesty’s Legation in elucidating the obscure affair. It turned out that
the pilgrims in question, of whom some forty were natives of Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan , had
been intercepted in Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan in an attempt to evade the passport and sanitary
controls and to proceed to Saudi Arabia by an unauthorised route, that they had
appealed to the Amir in the mosque, and that on an impulse he had telegraphed
to Ibn Saud. The Amir had not consulted the British Resident beforehand, and
there was no reason why such assistance as he requested from Ibn Saud should be
afforded. Finally, the Amir absolved Ibn Saud of any obligation under which
he might have placed himself in the matter, Ibn Saud expressed his thanks to
His Majesty’s Minister, and the matter was closed.

About this item

Content

This file contains copies of annual reports regarding the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia) during the years 1930-1938 and 1943-1944.

The reports were produced by the British Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan, succeeded by Sir Reader William Bullard) and sent to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (and in the case of these copies, forwarded by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Under-Secretary of State for India), with the exception of the reports for 1943 and 1944, which appear to have been produced and sent by His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires at Jedda, Stanley R Jordan.

The reports covering 1930-1938 discuss the following subjects: foreign relations; internal affairs; financial, economic and commercial affairs; military organisation; aviation; legislation; press; education; the pilgrimage; slavery and the slave trade; naval matters. The reports for 1943 and 1944 are rather less substantial. The 1943 report discusses Arab affairs, Saudi relations with foreign powers, finance, supplies, and the pilgrimage, whilst the 1944 report covers these subjects in addition to the following: the activities of the United States in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East Supply Centre, and the Saudi royal family.

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

Extent and format
1 file (268 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 269; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at 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 present in parallel between ff 2-12 and ff 45-268; these numbers are also written in pencil but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎24v] (49/540), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2085, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036362870.0x000032> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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