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Coll 6/11 'Hejaz-Nejd Affairs: Economic Development in the Hejaz' [16r] (32/504)
The record is made up of 1 file (250 folios). It was created in 23 Dec 1929-12 Aug 1937. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Kingdom and I have recently heard that both experts have
pronounced unfavourably on the prospects of finding water
at the Mahd. This, if true (for it is as yet unconfirmed),
might well dissipate dreams of an Eldorado in that
particular area.
3. As regard Italian influence in Saudi Arabia, Mr.*.
Tvitchell’s opinion that the Saudis were deeply suspicious
of the Italians is of considerable interest. For my own
part, I am impressed by the volume and unanimity of reports
current in Jedda that the Italian Legation here is au mieux
\ ( ; ith the Saudi authorities, as I have reported in my
despatch No.259 of the 5th September, but I am unable to
dismiss from my mind the impression created by Sheykh Yusuf
Yasin, only two months ago, when he spoke to me, with a
sincerity I found difficult to question, of his Government’s
resolve not to grant the oil concession for the Farsan
Islands to the Italians. The Saudi Government at that time
resisted the pressure that was brought to bear on them here
by the Italian Minister, a resistance which might well have
caused them some embarrassment as they had not long before
accepted at the hands of the Italians, the gift of three
aeroplanes. Perhaps the fact that, as far as I am aware,
the remaining three aeroplanes have not yet arrived, may be
attributed to Italian disappointment over the oil
concession. I therefore am inclined to share Mr.Twitchell’s
opinion. I would certainly agree with the view that it
would be impolitic to enter into any competition with the
Italians for the favours of King Abdul Aziz, either in the
supply of aeroplanes gratis or in the training of Saudi
pilots.
About this item
- Content
This file mostly consists of copies of Foreign Office correspondence, which have been forwarded by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Under-Secretary of State for India. The correspondence, most of which is between Foreign Office officials and either the British Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan, succeeded by Sir Reader William Bullard) or His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires at Jedda (Cecil Gervase Hope Gill, Albert Spencer Calvert, and Alan Charles Trott), relates to the economic development of the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia). Other correspondents include the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Trenchard Craven William Fowle) and officials of the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department.
The opinion expressed by British correspondents near the beginning of the file is that the unsatisfactory state of the country's finances is a result of its complete dependence on the pilgrimage for income. Much of the file is concerned with various projects (such as water and mineral surveys) sanctioned by Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] in order to explore other sources of revenue.
Items of discussion include the following:
- News that Ibn Saud intends to establish a power station for the purpose of providing Mecca and Jedda with electricity.
- Ibn Saud's wish to establish a state bank, preferably a British bank, to improve the financial situation in the country.
- Four reports on the country's water and mineral resources, produced by American engineer and geologist Karl Saben Twitchell in 1932 (copies of three of the four reports are included).
- The British Minister at Jedda's thoughts on how the economic unification of the newly-formed Saudi Arabia will progress.
- Proposed improvements to Jedda's water supply.
- The establishment of an 'Arabian Steam Navigation Company' by the Saudi Government.
- Details of the Saudi Arabian Mining Syndicate's concession with the Saudi Government for the exploitation of gold and other minerals, which was negotiated by Twitchell, signed in December 1934, and ratified by Ibn Saud in February 1935.
- Reports of anti-Ibn Saud propaganda in the Indian Muslim press.
- Details of the Saudi Arabian Mining Syndicate's activities in Saudi Arabia.
- The history of the Ahrar movement in India, its political party, Majlis-i-Ahrar-i-Islam, and its reported condemnation of the recent Saudi mining concession.
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 (250 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 inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 251; 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 2-251; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Coll 6/11 'Hejaz-Nejd Affairs: Economic Development in the Hejaz' [16r] (32/504), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2077, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038032899.0x000021> [accessed 19 April 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2077
- Title
- Coll 6/11 'Hejaz-Nejd Affairs: Economic Development in the Hejaz'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:35v, 38r:38v, 40r:115v, 117r:119v, 139r:140v, 143r:148v, 160r:162v, 188r:210v, 213r:213v, 215r:223v, 225r:244v, 247r:251v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence