Coll 6/9 'Jeddah Reports Jany 1931–' [‎341r] (682/802)

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15. The Government of India debt is dealt with in paragraph 44, and that
due to Messrs. Gellatly, Hankey and Co. in paragraph 45.
10. In November His Majesty’s Government were approached by the
Ottoman Debt Council with the proposal that they, in conjunction with the
s . other Government signatories of the Treaty of Lausanne, should make joint
representations to the Hejaz-Nejd Government in the matter of the shares of
the Ottoman Public Debt due by the latter. It appeared that the Hejaz-Nejd
Government, invited by the council to settle their quota of the debt, had replied
on the 29th September refusing point-blank to recognise any responsibility or
to take any action in the matter. This can hardly be regarded as surprising.
His Majesty’s Government had earlier in the year been approached by the French
Government with a similar proposal of the council in respect of the European
Governments, who were similarly debtors, and had replied that, while they
agreed in principle to the proposal, they considered the moment inopportune
for the purpose. No further action was accordingly taken in this instance, a
formal acknowledgment only being sent to the Council.
Economic Situation.
17. It was generally felt, at the end of the year, that the economic situation
<jould hardly have been worse. The merchants of Jedda and Mecca had, for the
past tw T o years, been increasingly hard hit, not only by trade depression, but by
the ever-growing volume of forced loans, without material prospect of repayment,
extorted from them by the Government in the guise of Sheikh Abdullah Suleiman.
To this was now added the uncertainty produced by monetary crises elsewhere.
Prices of imported goods had risen considerably; and as most of the necessaries
of life are imported, living was appreciably dearer. Amongst the tribes,
particularly in the Northern Hejaz. the utmost misery was reported. Their live
stock, especially camels, have been seriously depleted by Government requisitions
for military purposes, and they have been compelled by necessity to sell off much
of what remained at heavy losses. Tales of famine were rife, although stories of
Bedouin dying of starvation by the hundred were doubtless exaggerated. It
became impossible, however, to discount the continuous reports of hunger and
increased mortality received from all sources and all directions.
Economic Development.
18. Mr. Twitched has shown great activity. He first installed his American
prospector, Mr. Moseley, near Taif, where he remained during November and
December prospecting for gold, with results so far unknown. Mr. Twitched then
resumed work on the Waziria Weds near Jedda (September-October report,
paragraph 16). The American windmill pump was erected, and by mid-December
was producing a regular flow of water, which at one time found its way through
the old Turkish conduit to Jedda. His success stopped there, for the conduit
developed serious leaks, and the authorities shrank from the expenditure
necessary to recondition it. By the end of December the hoped-for flow of water
into the town had still not been attained. On the 15th December Mr. Twitched
departed on an extended tour through Nejd under the King's auspices, to
investigate potential supplies of minerals and water. His wife remained at
dedda in charge of the windmill and certain water-seeking operations which had
been started in the neighbourhood with the aid of a hand-drill.
Customs Duties.
19. An official communique of the 10th November announced the levying as
, . from that date of additional customs duties on benzine, kerosene, sugar, tobacco
and cigarette paper, and matches. *
* Wireless Installation.
20. No further instalments of payment were made by the Hejazi Govern
ment (September-October report, paragraph 18), and at the end of December
payment was five months in arrear. Some progress in installation was made. The
Umm-al-Qura ” of the 20th November reported that the station at Hail was