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Coll 6/11 'Hejaz-Nejd Affairs: Economic Development in the Hejaz' [86r] (172/504)
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.
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
WITH reference to my despatch No. 4^of the 7th January, I have the honour
to state that the text of the agreement between the Saudi Government and the
Saudi Arabian Mining Syndicate (Limited) was published in the Umm-al-Qura
of the 15th February, together with a Royal decree dated the 12th February
sanctioning the agreement. It may be assumed that the syndicate had already
ratified it.
2. The agreement is a fairly lengthy document, and I consider it unnecessary
to trouble you with all the details. I enclose a synopsis showing the principal
conditions. In the absence of the annexed map it is difficult to trace the exact
boundaries of the assigned area on the south and east, but a very fair idea of
them can be formed with the aid of the ordinary maps and the Handbook for
Arabia. You will observe that the northern boundary is the de facto frontier
between the Hejaz and
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
, starting from “Point E,” the position of
which is defined as in the Hadda Agreement.
3. Mr. Twitchell duly visited Egypt and Syria as foreshadowed in my
despatch under reference and travelled as far east as Rutba, whence he went to
see the alleged gold mine at Gaara. He then proceeded for a short time to England.
He returned to Jedda on the 17th February and is now making active preparations
to start his prospecting campaign at four places, all of which are in the northern
part of the assigned area and the most important of which is the “Cot of Gold,”
where he has previously done some preliminary work. He has collected two
mining engineers, a British subject named George, who has had much experience
in India, and a United States citizen named Ballard, besides a clerical
assistant named Bisshopp. He expects a third mining engineer from
Australia. M. van de Poll, who was mentioned in my despatch under
reference, has already been busy up Medina way and Mr. Twitchell describes
him as having done magnificent work. I gather that the general headquarters
of the prospectors will be in the first instance at Yanbu’, where a house has
already been rented. Mr. Twitchell is certainly tackling his enterprise with
great energy.
4. I am sending copies of this despatch and enclosure to the Department of
Overseas Trade and his Excellency the High Commissioner for
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
at
Jerusalem.
Synopsis of the Principal Clauses in the A greement of December 23, 1934, between
the Saudi Government and the Saudi Arabian Mining Syndicate {Limited).
THE Syndicate to have exclusive rights of prospecting and digging for
rn pinllff snhstanees i n the assigned area, for two years.
2. The area to be that shown in the attached map (not reproduced) and to be
bounded as follows :—
From the intersection of meridian 38 degrees east and parallel 29 degrees
35 minutes north-westward, by the frontier of the territory now under the Saudi
Government towards
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
. On the west by the Gulf of Aqaba and the
Red Sea as far south as the Bay of Birk at parallel 18 degrees 10 minutes north.
[356 1—2]
CONFIDENTIAL.
EASTERN (Arabia).
[E 1640/602/25 |
No. 1.
(No. 56.)
Sir,
Sir A. Ryan to Sir John Simon.—{Received March 11.)
Jedda, February 24, 1935.
I have, &c.
ANDREW RYAN.
Enclosure in No. 1.
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' [86r] (172/504), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2077, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038032899.0x0000ad> [accessed 23 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