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146. H.M.S. Challenger fixed the points for the buoying of the Ras Tanura
anchorages and approaches—a service which the Saudi Government seem to have
appreciated.
Aeroplane Flights across Saudi Territory.
147. In March instructions were received from the Foreign Office to apply
for the permission of the Saudi Government for the passage across Saudi territory
in April of three Royal Air Force aircraft of the “ Wellesley type, which
were to make an experimental flight from Egypt to Australia : the route across
Saudi Arabia was to be from a point on the 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 frontier near Mann
to a point on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. midway between Koweit and Bahrein, and would
bring the machines within approximately 150 miles of Hail. After permission
had been obtained, the flight w T as postponed until October, but a practice non
stop flight from England to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. across Saudi Arabia
was arranged for a date in July between the 7th July and the
15th July, and it was contemplated that the machines, after visiting Australia,
should return by the same route. The Saudi Government gave permission for
this practice flight, which presumably took place, as the Saudi authorities made
enquiries about “an aeroplane” which was seen over their territory on the
8th July, more or less on the line which had been indicated. The long-distance
flight was carried out in November, when three ‘ ‘ Wellesley ” bombers broke
the long-distance record and two made a direct flight from Egypt to Australia.
The Saudi Government gave permission for this flight also, but their Minister
in London called at the Foreign Office, on instructions from Ibn Saud, and said
that His Majesty’s Government would avoid placing him in an embarrassing
situation if they were to make requests for permission for flights on very rare
occasions only. The minister explained that Ibn Saud had no personal objection
and, indeed, was glad to help His Majesty’s Government, but some of his ignorant
and suspicious tribesmen regarded the passage of aircraft as a sign that he had sold
his country to the British, and though he had no sympathy with such views he was
obliged to take them intoaccount. On instructions from His Majesty’s Government,
Sir R. Bullard informed the King that they would bear his wishes in mind
in future.
The British Council.
148. This is the first occasion on which this heading has been required in
the Jedda annual report. In May the legation received from Lord Lloyd
through the Foreign Office an enquiry as to the possibility of extending the work
of the British Council to Saudi Arabia. The letter mentioned two specific
projects which had occurred to Lord Lloyd during his recent tour in the Near
and Middle East, viz., to provide a medical unit, including a British doctor,
which, subject to religious and political considerations, would reside at Ibn
Saud’s headquarters wherever it might happen to be at the moment; and
secondly, to assist an Englishman with experience of teaching in Iraq who wished
to set up as a teacher of English in Saudi Arabia. As an alternative to the first
proposal, it was suggested that some other form of medical work, e.g., among
women, might be possible.
149. Discreet soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. discovered reluctance on Ibn Saud’s part to accept
an English teacher in his country, ostensibly because of its religious character,
and after careful consideration His Majesty's Minister was compelled to declare
against the medical proposals also for the moment, partly on religious grounds,
partly because of the hostility which such proposals would meet from the Syrians
who at present monopolise the medical posts in Saudi Arabia. The Governor
of Jedda, to whom the work of the British Council had been explained, suggested
(under inspiration from above) that the only possibility seemed to be to offer
education in England to selected young men. Working on these lines Sir R.
Bullard suggested that one young Saudi wffio had done well at a secondary school
in Egypt should be assisted to take a course at an English university in history
and connected subjects, and that two Saudi pilots should take courses in naviga
tion, with the help of the Council, at some civil aviation school in the United
Kingdom. Both of these suggestions were approved by the Council. The history
student could not accept the offer for 1938, but hopes to do so for the autumn of
1939. Sir R. Bullard had not put the other proposal before the Saudi authorities
because he found that they had made no attempt to take advantage of the
facilities offered them for the training of Saudi mechanics in Egypt free of cost.