Ext 3323/44 'Sunni Moslem teachers for Saudi Arabia' [‎15r] (29/56)

SECRET
' 15 th iviarch, 1944 .
Despatch No . Jp
Sir,
VI
I have the honour to report that since my arrival at Jeddah I have been
.endeavouring to interest His Majesty the King and his advisers in the activities (
in the Middle jiast oi‘ the British Council* On several occasions I have explained
the functions of ohe Council to members of Xbn Saud* s Government and they have
all expressed a considerable interest in its activities and how Saudi Arabia could
benefit from the work of this organization. When in Riyadh recently His Majesty
rei erred to oho subject and stated that no country could become progressive with
out education. He realised that his country lagged behind many others in this
respect and he int ende d in the near future to endeavour to bring education in
Saudi Arabia .rioHin the range of all and up to the level or even beyond that which)
existed in neighbouring Arab States.
2* he announced his intention of creating a large secondary school at Taif and }
he hoped that with His Majesty's Government's assistance and that of the British
Council he would be able to secure the services of teachers not only of English
but o_l various technical subjects. He pointed out that in his on ini on the Hedjaz r 4
that is Mecca, Medina, iaix and Jeddah, would become the principal educational
centres oi the kingdom arid he hoped that it would be possible for us to assist
nim in ootaining suitable teachers for schools already existing or to be created
in those centres.
• >> * was also interested in sending Saudi subjects abroad for higher education
and experience.
4. I informed His Majesty that I had already discussed with Professor Boase of
the British Council in Cairo the possibility of extending the Council's activities
to Saudi Arabia and that with the assistance of Professor Boase I had been able
to arrange for four selected Saudi subjects ‘to enter Victoria College. I was
also in communication, on the advice of Professor Doa.se, with, the principals, of 2^4
the Arab College in Jerusalem and the Gordon College in Khartoum, and I hoped that
it might be possible to send selected Saudi students to both those institutions,
and later to send them or students selected from amongst them to England to com—
nlete their education and so to enable them to return to Saudi Arabia and be use
ful to His Majesty in the administration of the country.
; *. His Majesty expressed keen interest in the scheme but insisted only on one
thing, and that was that all teachers supplied to him for the education of his
subjects should be Mohammedans of the Suni persuasion. He mentioned particularly
ooudanese and Indians. He went on to explain the reason for this request. His
country, as the centre of the Mohammedan world, could be best served by Mohammecfcins
ana also these teachers* or most of them, in order to carry on their duties effect
ively wouj-u have 00 enter the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina which were of course
closed to other than Moslems.
6. ^ You are aware that the British Council have had no connection with Saudi
Axabia up to the present and in view of His Majesty's expressed enthusiasm for •
educational facilities in Saudi Arabia I feel that we here .have an ’- ?
excellent opportunity of making Great Britain and its culture better known in a
country where educational facilities have been sadly lacking in the past. I
realise that it may be difficult to rind suitable Moslem teachers to Work under
tne Council's guidance but, in view of the very friendly and close relations
Jiichj^j^i. liBt'ivecfi His Majesty personally and His Majesty's Government, I recom
mend strongly that a, special effort should be made to meet His Maiesty's wishes
and reliable Mohammedan teachers employed and placed at His Majesty's disposal.
The Right Honourable Anthony Eden, .C., .P.,
' etc., etc., etc.,
FOREIGN OFFICE.