Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎10r] (20/802)

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^ THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
December 28, 1937.
EASTERN (Arabia).
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 1.
[E 7573/580/25]
Copy No.
Sir R. Bullard to. Mr. Eden.—(Received December 28.)
(No. 176. Confidential.)
Sir,
Jedda, December 1, 1937.
I HAVE the honour to submit herewith the Jedda report for November 1937.
2. Copies have been distributed as in the list in paragraph 67.
I have, &c.
433. The rumour that the King would come to Mecca during Ramadan
proved to be unfounded. It is now stated, though not officially, that he is coming to
Jedda about the middle of December.
434. The Saut-ul-Hejaz of the 9th November announces that Muhammad-
bin-Abdurrahman-al-Suweilim has been appointed Amir of Qunfada, and has
already left for his post.
435. The local press announces the arrival at Mecca of Abdul Aziz-bin-
Musaid, the Amir of Hail, for the performance of the Umra ceremony. He
remained for a few days at Mecca and then left for Medina on the 17th November,
on his way to Hail.
436. Sheikh Yusuf Yasin was not drowned in the floods in Syria (para
graph 378), but arrived back at Riyadh from Bagdad about the 16th November.
437. The Amir of Tebuk, who was recently in the limelight in connexion
with rumoured military preparations against 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 , is said to have been
seen at Jedda. Somewhere about the 15th November four cars were seen at the
barracks, having brought four occupants, including the Amir and a Turkish
gunner. After spending the night at the barracks they left at dawn, under
conditions of great secrecy and in haste, the following day. They are said to
have gone to Tebuk. What the explanation of this mysterious and very circuitous
journey from Riyadh to Tebuk may be is unknown.
438. The Umm-ul-Qura of the 29th October mentions that Sheikh Taiyib-
us-Sasi, having been granted a pardon by the King, has returned to Mecca and
been received by the Amir Faisal. The sheikh was the editor of the Qiblah
newspaper during the Hashimite regime; he fled to Aden, and subsequently to
Lahej, on the fall of the Shereef. He is of Moorish extraction.
439. The Banque Misr collect an inclusive charge from every Egyptian pilgrim
to cover not only the journey to and from the Hejaz, but also transport changes
in the country and Saudi koshan dues. Against the koshan proceeds, it is under
stood, the bank allow the Saudi Government to draw cheques up to £65,000 during
the pilgrim season. This arrangement is perhaps responsible for rumours that
Banque Misr was to be the State bank and to hold all State revenues on behalf of
the Government.
440. Tenders for the construction of the road from the foothills near Jedda
to Mecca have to be submitted to the Ministry of Public Works in Cairo by mid-
December. That portion, it is announced, is to be asphalted, whereas the sandy
stretch from Jedda to the foothills is to be treated by the Shell “ mix-in-place”
method which has been tested with success on a short piece of road near the
Medina Gate in Jedda; the surface sand is treated with crude oil, with which
R.’ W. BULLARD.
Enclosure.
Jedda Report for November 1937.
I .—Internal Affairs.