Coll 35/6 'Arabia: Hejaz-Nejd; wireless stations; postal and telegraph communications with the outside world' [‎183v] (366/1031)

2
t
for good relations not only with the companies but with His Majesty s Govern
ment, who had done so much to promote the conclusion of a satisfactory agicement.
8. The agreement itself calls for few comments. The reduction of rates
will be a boon to the public and to some extent to His Majesty s Government,
who are at present, unfortunately, the largest users of the cable. Article 9 enects
a more equitable distribution of rates collected for wireless transmission when^^
the cable is interrupted, and one to which the Sudan Government readily assente^^^-
on my consulting them. Article 14 was the only clause which gave rise to
material difficulty, as it qualifies the monopoly accorded by article 11 to a greater
extent than Cable and Wireless (Limited) were at first ready to accept. I was
myself opposed to the possible creation of independent public services in Arabia,
and I should have preferred to see the provision for independent official
communication with Syria limited to trans-frontier messages. The Saudi
Government, were, however, adamant on both points. T ne arrangements
regarding wireless communication between Hasa and Bahrein are, I think,
satisfactory.
9. The delegates of the companies left for Port Sudan in the Lady Denison
Pender on the 18th April.
10. I am sending copies of this despatch and enclosures (where not already
forwarded to Khartum) to the Government of India, Foreign and Political
Department, Bushire, Cairo and Khartum.
I have, &c.
ANDREW RYAN.
Enclosure.
Agreement between the Saudi Arab Government and the Sudan Government,
owners of the 'Jedda-Port Sudan Submarine Cable, and the Eastern
Telegraph Company (Limited) and Cable and Wireless (Limited), their
Successors or those who may take their place in Oicnership.
WHEREAS the Government of the Hejaz (now replaced by the Saudi
Arab Government) and the Sudan Government are owners under an agreement
concluded on the 18th December, 1926, of the submarine cable extending from
Jedda to Port Sudan, and whereas under article 3 of the said agreement they
authorised the Eastern Telegraph Company (Limited) to work the cable and to
assure communication thereby between Jedda and Port Sudan under an agree
ment duly concluded between them and the Eastern Telegraph Company (Limited)
on the 18th December, 1926, and whereas it has been found advantageous to
reconsider that agreement and to modify it in a manner appropriate to the
changes which have taken place, it has been agreed between the Saudi Arab
Government and the Sudan Government, as owners of the Jedda-Port Sudan
cable, and the Eastern Telegraph Company (Limited), of Electra House, Victoria
Embankment, London, W.C. 2, and Cable and Wireless (Limited), of the same
address, to conclude an agreement and for this purpose they have appointed : —
The Saudi Arab Government—
His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah-as-Suleiman-al-Hamdan, Minister of
F inance.
The Sudan Government—
His Excellency Sir Andrew Ryan.
The Eastern Telegraph Company (Limited), and Cable and Wireless
(Limited)—
Admiral H. W. Grant and Mr. H. R. Staples.
as representatives on their behalf and have authorised them to sign the said
agreement. The representatives have accordingly agreed upon the following
articles :—