Coll 35/6 'Arabia: Hejaz-Nejd; wireless stations; postal and telegraph communications with the outside world' [‎288r] (575/1031)

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The next subject on Fuad Bey’s list was the question of telegraphic and
wireless communication between Saudi Arabia and the outer world, with
parliciilar referehce to the provisions of the Jedda-Fort Sudan Uable /agreement.
Fuad Bey recalled the fact that the Saudi Government were debarred by
article 6 of this agreement from using their wireless stations in the Hejaz for
the purpose of communication with other countries. When the agreement had
been signed there were two separate Governments, in the Hejaz and in Nejd.
and the agreement had been interpreted as applying to the Hejaz only. The
situation had now greatly changed in every respect; and the Saudi Government
were finding it exceedingly inconvenient to be obliged to send all telegraphic
communications from the Hejaz by the Port Sudan cable. A French company,
the Radio Orient, and various Italian interests had also approached the Saudi
Government in the matter.
Sir A. Ryan recalled that the working agreement had been entered into by
the Sudan and Hejaz Governments jointly as joint owners, and by the Eastern
Telegraph Company as workers, of the cable. The agreement was terminable on
two years’ notice, to be given either by both joint owners or by the company.
Fuad Bey said that an exchange of notes had taken place between the Sudan
and Saudi Governments arranging that if the Saudi Government should approach
the Sudan Government with a view to the termination of the agreement, the
Sudan Government would agree to join in giving the required notice.
Sir A . Ryan stated that the interpretation of the agreement had in the past
given rise to various legal difficulties which had not, however, been pursued, as
the amalgamation of the Eastern Telegraph Company with Marconis seemed to
have simplified the problem. On the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. side, however, a somewhat
similar problem had arisen over the question of communications between Hasa
and Bahrein. Conversations had taken place between King Ibn Saud, Sheikh
Yusuf Yasin and Sir FI. Biscoe in 1932. No advance had been made, and the
matter had lain dormant for some time, but had lately been revived, and His
Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires at Jedda had been instructed to revert to it with
the Saudi Government.
Fuad Bey Hamza also raised the question of the charges on the cable. It
was agreed, however, that the question of the interpretation of the Jedda-Port
Sudan Cable Agreement and of Saudi wireless communications with other
countries was a very technical one and one in which His Majesty’s Government
in the United Kingdom were not very directly interested, and that it would be
preferable, therefore, that this question should not be dealt with in the proposed
general settlement. It was agreed that the best course would be for a meeting
to be arranged before I'uad Bey’s departure from London between himself and
representatives of Cables and Wireless (Limited) (now incorporating inter alia
both the Eastern Telegraph Company and Marconis) and. if possible, some
representative of the Sudan Government, possibly Sir Stewart Symes, who was.
understood to be in England on leave.
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September 24, 1934. RYAN.