Coll 6/19 'Arabia: (Saudi Arabia) Hejaz-Nejd Annual Report.' [‎251v] (503/540)

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derelict until the end of the year without any perceptible effect on the diplomatic
life of Jedda except the occultation of the least attractive element in it. It does
not follow that there is nothing doing between the two countries in regard to one
matter of possible common interest, namely, the creation of a new pilgrim route
overland by car from a port in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , which might cut out Bahrain.
Ibn Saud despatched a commission to the Hasa coast in September to study thw^
among many other subjects. This alone would not point to an active Persian
participation in the scheme, but Habibullah Khan, who went to Tehran some time
in the autumn, was stated in the press to have given an interview foreshadowing
a further treaty with Hejaz-Nejd. He referred, the report stated, to the new
pilgrim route and to a decision of the Persian Government that the transport of
pilgrims, which had hitherto been a monopoly of Syrian and Iraqi companies,
should be effected through Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports and on by motor car to the Hejaz.
The main object of the Persian Government appears to be to cut out Syria, and
in 1930 a fair number of Persian pilgrims came to Jedda by Russian steamer
from Muhammarah.
(11) Afghanistan.
93. Following on the accession of Nadir Khan to the Throne of Afghanistan
on the 16th October, 1929, his Foreign Secretary telegraphed the news about the
beginning of 1930 to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Government of
Hejaz-Nejd and its Dependencies, thus giving full titles. The communication
was inspired by the religious connexion and Islamic sympathy between the two
countries, and an earnest hope was expressed that the notification would meet
with “kind acceptance owing to our mutual wishes and religious bonds."
94. Since his conquest of the Hejaz, Ibn Saud has been more accustomed to
seek recognition than to be asked to accord it. It is evident from what was
published in the “ Umm-al-Qura" that Nadir Khan’s request created a
pleasurable flutter in Mecca; and in January the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
sent a telegram, the material portion of which ran : “In view of the religious
bonds and mutual Islamic sentiments between our two countries, His Majesty’s
Government have received the news with great pleasure and have instructed me to
convey their official recognition of His Majesty Muhammad Nadir Khan as King
of Afghanistan.’’
95. Although Hejaz-Nejd and Afghanistan have established relations by
the above exchange of telegrams, there is little or no connexion between them,
except that a fair number of Afghans take part in the pilgrimage. The Turkish
representative at Jedda is by way of being in charge of Afghan interests, but
does not appear to concern himself with them overmuch. It appears, indeed,
that the arrangement made under the previous regime was neither renewed nor
cancelled on Nadir Khan’s accession, and Seni Bey does not know where he is.
In reply to a question by Sir A. Ryan early in 1931 regarding the establishment
of relations, he laughed and said he could talk for some hours on the episode.
This would appear to indicate that there were certain dessous to the matter, but
time has not admitted of further exploration.
(C )—Position in regard to the General International System and the
League of Nations.
96. The attitude of Hejaz-Nejd towards the general international system is
nicely blended of ignorance, a mistrust of European contraptions and a halting
desire, in certain cases, to participate, not so much from a wish to collaborate with
other Powers as to escape from a situation of real or imagined inferiority. The
difficulty of estimating the proportions of those various elements is increased by a
personal factor. Ibn Saud prides himself on his knowledge of Bedouin life. His
outlook on the rest of the world is that of a shrewd but ill-informed sheikh.
Few of his influential advisers can supply his deficiencies in this respect, but one
in particular, Fuad Bey Hamza, is a man of ranging mind and considerable
knowledge of international affairs. This remarkable young Syrian—he is not
more than 32 years of age—has never been outside the Near East, but he has
acquired by study and practice as Acting Director for Foreign Affairs a great
amount of knowledge. Imbued with Arab national sentiments, he has always