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Coll 6/12 'Railways: Hejaz Railway: Reconditioning of.' [‎54v] (108/1033)

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The record is made up of 1 file (515 folios). It was created in 12 Jun 1931-10 Jan 1939. 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. .

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Enclosure 1 .
Translation of Extract from Damascus Alef Ba of June 1, 1938.
The Parliament Approves Necessary Credits: The Parliament Telegraphs to
King l bn Saud.
AMONGST the projects approved by the Syrian Parliament in its final
session last night was the proposal for an extraordinary credit of £Syr. 270,000
for the repair of the Hejaz Railway and the resumption of its working. Agree
ment was reached after discussions and the clear statements made by Shukri Bey
Quwatli. Then the Deputy A1 Haraki proposed the despatch of a telegram to
His Majesty King Ibn Saud informing him of this result and begging him to fulfil
in his turn the agreements passed between His Majesty and Shukri Bey.
This is the text of the telegram sent:—
A1 Riyadh : His Majesty King Abdul Aziz Aal Saud.
The Syrian Parliament takes the opportunity of a vote for the opening of
credits in order to share in repairs to the Hejaz line and the resumption of
its working, to submit to your Majesty its respect and thanks for your
endeavours in his matter, asking God to strengthen your throne for the benefit of
the Arabs and for unity amongst them.
The Speaker,
FARES-AL-KHOURI.
Enclosure 2 .
Extract f rom the Damascus Echos of June 1 , 1938.
La Chambre a vote en touts hate ^270,000 pour la Reconstitution du Chemin de
Per du Hedjaz. Quel serait le sort de cet emprunt?
Damas (Office arabe). —La Chambre a vote hier, apres des debats sommaires,
un emprunt de 30 mille livres sterling ou leur contre-valeur de 270 mille livres
syriennes pour la participation a la reconstruction et le rdtablissement de la ligne
ferree du Hedjaz entre Damas et les villes saintes du Hedjaz, le Gouvernement
seoudite participant pour un credit du meme montant a cette entreprise. Com-
mentant ce vote, on se demande, dans certains milieux, si les Gouvernements
frangais et britannique int^resses dans cette entreprise ont ete consultes en la
circonstance et, dans la negative, si, ils ne constituent pas une grave entrave pour
la realisation de ce projet. Quel serait le sort de cet emprunt au cas oil, pour
ces raisons ou pour toutes autres, cette entreprise s’avere irrealisable ? On se
demande, par contre, pour le cas oil Tentreprise serait entouree des garantie^
necessaires, si une souscription publique nationale n’aurait pas ete plus judicieuse
qu'un emprunt congu dans ces conditions et qui serait une preface a la politique
des “ emprunts " consideree si nefaste pour 1 ’avenir national du pays.

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Content

This volume largely consists of copies of Colonial Office and Foreign Office and correspondence. The correspondence concerns the possibility of the Hejaz railway being reconditioned and extended. A large part of the correspondence discusses the issue of ownership regarding the Hejaz railway. Much of the correspondence documents attempts by the British to dismiss claims that the railway had been legally recognised as a waqf during Ottoman rule. Matters discussed in relation to the railway include the following:

  • The history of the Hejaz railway.
  • Details of the proceedings of the Muslim Conference in Jerusalem in 1931, and of its resolutions regarding the Hejaz railway (not formally recognised by the British), in which it is argued that the line is a waqf.
  • Reports that the Saudi Government is prepared to put aside the question of ownership in order to discuss with the British and French the restitution of the railway.
  • Details of a Hejaz railway conference between the British, French, and Saudi governments, held at Haifa in October 1935.
  • The issue of whether the British Government should contribute towards the reconstruction of the Saudi Arabian section of the railway.

Correspondents include the following: His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan, succeeded by Sir Reader William Bullard); His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires, Jedda (Albert Spencer Calvert, succeeded by Alan Charles Trott); His Majesty's Consul at Damascus (Edwyn Cecil Hole, succeeded by Gilbert Mackereth); the High Commissioner for Palestine 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 (Arthur Grenfell Wauchope); the Secretary of State for the Colonies; His Majesty's Ambassador in Paris (Eric Phipps); the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs; various officials of the Colonial Office and Foreign Office.

In addition to correspondence, the file includes the following items:

  • A copy of a memorandum by the British Consul at Damascus on the history of the Hejaz railway and its management by Compagnie Damas-Hama et Prolongments (DHP).
  • A copy of an extract from the proceedings of the aforementioned Muslim Conference.
  • A copy of the minutes and two copies (one in English and one in French) of the resolutions of the Hejaz railway conference.

As well as the aforementioned resolutions, the file contains a number of letters written in French. The Arabic material consists of a short passage taken from correspondence that is translated elsewhere in the file.

The file includes two dividers, which give a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (515 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 516; 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 2-515; these numbers are also written in pencil and are circled, but are crossed through.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 6/12 'Railways: Hejaz Railway: Reconditioning of.' [‎54v] (108/1033), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2078, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038044256.0x00006f> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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