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Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎213v] (427/540)

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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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whether to stand aloof or to send a representative to look after his interests.
Fuad Bey enquired as to the attitude of His Majesty’s Government, to whom
His Majesty looked for a lead. Other Governments having also approached His
Majesty’s Government on the same subject, a generally similar reply was sent to
all, subject to adaptations required by the form of the particular representations
made. Mr. Hope Gill informed Fuad Bey, on the 21st November, that Flis ^
Majesty’s Government could not advise the King as to whether to send delegates,
but that he might like to know that His Majesty’s Government were in no way
associated wdth the proposal to hold the Congress; that it had neither then-
encouragement nor support; that their attitude was one of detachment, except
as regards possible reactions on public security in Palestine; and that the Grand
Mufti was doubtless acting as a religious dignitary, not as a Palestinian official.
A week later a further communication was made to the effect that, in view of
conversations which had passed between the Grand Mufti and the High
Commissioner, His Majesty’s Government did not anticipate that political
questions would be raised or that the proceedings at the congress would be
embarrassing to Ibn Baud. The Grand Mufti, it was added, had given a specific
assurance that the Caliphate question would not be broached. Fuad Bey
expressed gratitude for this information, but it would appear from publications
in the press that, before receiving His Majesty’s Government’s reply, Ibn Baud
had made up his mind to discountenance the congress. No delegate was sent, nor
does it appear that any notables from Hejaz-Nejd attended. Though Fuad Bey
is said to have sent a sympathetic message, and the Mecca newspapers showed
guarded interest, it is evident that the whole affair was repugnant to Ibn Baud.
Apart from the danger of criticism of his regime in the Hejaz, which was, in fact,
denounced in due course in a leaflet circulated at the congress, he had other
reasons for his attitude. He detests the Indian agitator, Shauqat Ali, who was
one of the moving spirits. He claims to be the only Simon Pure of Islam, and
has himself had no use for Moslem conferences since he held one in Mecca in 1926.
The whole affair had enough of a Hashimite complexion to arouse his mistrust.
And he may have been impressed by the view held in some quarters that one of
the objects of the promoters was to make Jerusalem, rather than a Mecca in
the hands of sectaries, the centre of the Moslem world.
67. In the portion of the annual report for 1930, which dealt with the
Aqaba-Maan and Hejaz Railway questions, mention was made of the role played
by Mr. H. St. J. B. Philby in regard to them. As no report on Hejaz-Nejd is
complete without some reference to this gentleman, this opportunity is taken of
bringing up to date the account there given of his general activities. During
1931 he resided principally at Mecca, paying occasional visits to Jedda, and
going further afield from time to time in connexion with the Marconi wireless
installation, or in quest of Ibn Baud’s society at Taif and in Nejd. He made his
first pilgrimage in April. Towards the end of the year he followed the King to
the Hasa Coast. He thus maintained his position in Ibn Baud’s entourage/but
during the summer and autumn his sentiments of complete devotion to the King
and belief in his system underwent a change. When the successful accomplish
ment of Mr. Bertram Thomas’s journey across the Ruba-al-Khali was announced,
Mr. Philby was immeasurably disappointed at not having been himself the first
to achieve it; and he accused Ibn Baud of having refused him permission to make
the attempt after previously promising to grant it. He had no little trouble
over the Marconi affair, and found himself in an awkward position between the
company and the Hejazi Government. The financial methods of the Hejazis
involved his own concern, Sharqieh (Limited), in grave difficulties. The stock
of benzine belonging to the Standard Oil Company, which Sharqieh represents,
was raided as mercilessly as that belonging to Eigyptian Shell. He played a
leading part in the attempt by Fuad Bey Hamza and others to displace the
Director-General of Finance in the autumn. Altogether, Sheikh Abdullah Philby
spent ther second half of the year in a state of sad disillusionment:
a disillusionment so great that he ceased to write news letters to the “ Near East ”
lest he should have only evil to say of his friends.
68. It is of some importance to get Mr. Philby into a true perspective, in
view of the increasing tendency of certain sections of the European press to
represent him as playing a great role in Arabia. As a European he burnt his

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.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎213v] (427/540), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2085, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036362872.0x00001c> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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