'File 11/44 Leading Personalities in Iraq, Iran & Saudi Arabia' [‎40r] (79/96)

JPIayed no particular role subsequently (and was so
little valued for brain-power as to be known as “ the
Sheep ”) until ex-King ’Ali sent him on a delegation
to negotiate with Ibn Sa’ud at Mecca. Went over
definitely to Ibn Sa’ud and acted as his representa
tive at Kabigh for the 1925 pilgrimage, in which
employment he is said to have feathered his nest.
Attached to the King’s son, Muhammad, as adviser
when the young Amir occupied Medina later in 1925.
Figured as a Hejazi delegate at the Moslem Congress
in Mecca in June 1926. Obtained about the same
. period, in partnership with Indians settled in Mecca,
a contract for motor transport, but lost it. Did better
as purveyor to the Government. Sent on an
unsuccessful mission to Eritrea in 1927 in connexion
* with negotiations for the recognition of Ibn Sa’ud bj
Italy and proposed treaty arrangements. Also had
some part in the treaty negotiations with Great
Britain. Became assistant to the Viceroy at Mecca
and so on to appointment to his present post in or
before 1929. Went in that year on a mission to
Persia. Alleged in the same year to have done nicely
in the company of ’Abdullah Suleyman by cornering
bezine, &c., just before new duties were imposed.
Appears to enjoy the King’s confidence in a high
degree and to steer an even or waggly course between
rival factions. Not impressive in appearance or con
versation; still somewhat of a sheep; but wears his
recent dignities with an acquired air of dignity,
^§c^)riety and sagacity, which may be a part • of his
success. May still have commercial interests, but
has long been dissociated from the business of the
other Fadhls. Acting Viceroy during Faisal’s
absence in 1939 and again during Faisal’s absence in
the winter of 1943.
10. ’Abdullah an Nafisi.
, Important as being Ibn Sa’ud’s agent at Kuwait,
where he is established as a merchant and once did a
large business in rice, &c. Now elderly and less
active. Seems sensible.
11. 'Abdullah ibn Suleyman al Hamddn.
Minister of Finance. Born about 1887. Of
plebeian ’Aneyza origin. Started life in a small way
with the Qusaibis, originally, it is said, as a coffee
boy. Spent ten years as clerk in their Bombay
office. Returned to Nejd about 1919. Said to have
gone bankrupt as a broker Often a local commercial agent in the Gulf who regularly performed duties of intelligence gathering and political representation. . Recommended by the
Ousaibis to replace his brother, who had died, as a
^|rk in the King’s Diwan. Rose to be head of the
*** Lmvan. Became Director-General of Finance and
had acquired complete control of all financial matters
by September 1928, when it w r as remarked that he
travelled in greater state than the King himself
between Mecca and Jedda. Has since been the most
powerful of the King’s advisers. His position was
strongly assailed in October 1931 by a cabal, which
included the Amir Faysal, Fuad Hamza, ’Abdullah
al Fadhl (perhaps a doubtful enemy) and Mr. Philby.
Was sent for a time to lend a hand with the Tawil
mission in Hasa, but had his place kept warm for
him and returned to it. Was promoted in August
1932 from being Director-General of Finance to the
post of Minister of Finance for the Hejaz and Nejd
and its Dependencies, thus obtaining the title of
Wazir Minister. , hitherto enjoyed only by the Amir Faysal.
fontinues to be supreme in the financial administra
tion and has his finger in many other pies, being in
effect Comptroller of the Privy Purse, Grand Master
of Ordnance, Quarter-Master-General on occasion,
general manager of the King’s establishment of
slaves and pilgrimage-organiser. Appointed in 1935
to the specific additional post of Deputy Minister of
Defence. Probably entirely faithful to the King,
whose needs he supplies at the expense of others
having demands on the Treasury, and who gives him
a free hand in finance regardless of the effect on
public opinion. A man of rather mean appearance,
but emphatically a “ live wire.” Ready and
energetic in conversation and full of ideas about
development. Has spent long periods at J edda
acting as the representative of the Minister for
Foreign Affairs. The main burden of dealing
with the Italian Minister’s procrastinations and
evasions in January and February 1942 fell on
him and he acquitted himself very creditably. He
was the originator of the agricultural development
scheme at Al Kharj and show'ed great energy and
enthusiasm in the face of much hostility, envy and
ill-natured criticism from his brother advisers. A
keen fisherman and a tireless traveller, his other
pleasures include tobacco, and the bottle. He has a
good sense of humour and repartee sharpened in
many verbal battles with his rivals. His position
was weakened somewhat by the dismissal in April
1944 of his friend and prot^g£ Najib Salha (No. 69)
whose pro-American enthusiasm he is thought to
share. Was a very harassed and worried man during
1944 when faced with the prospect of having to
reorganise the country’s finances and economy on
sounder lines. Accompanied the King to Egypt in
February 1945 for the meetings with President
Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill. Is cultivated by the
Americans whose increasing tendency to play the
role of Lady Bountiful to Saudi Arabia naturally
appeals to him as Minister of Finance. The abuse of
his official position by his brother Hamad, and the
latter’s sons, is gross and scandalous. .
In August 1946 visited the United States,
accompanied by a rabble of official and unofficial
hangers-on, for the purpose of negotiating a loan to
be used for purchase in the United States of essen
tial supplies and rehabilitation equipment. A
10 million dollar line of credit for these purposes
was granted by the Export-Import Bank, secured
by an assignment of royalties due from the oil
company. It seems that the Minister and his
entourage took the opportunity afforded by* their
presence in America to make a large number of
purchases on private account.
12. Abdul-Wahhdb, Descendants of.
The following seem to be the most notable of the
descendants of the founder of Wahhabism: —
(1) 'Abdullah ibn Hasan. —Is one of the leading
Wahhabi Ulema in Mecca. Played a role in 1926,
with ’Abdullah ibn Blayhid (q.v.), in the Wahhabi
purging of the Holy Cities, and was in 1929 thought,
like him, to favour the Ikhwan extremists. Signed
the pronouncement of the Ulama in favour of Jihad
at the time of the Ibn Rifada rebellion in 1932. Now
Grand Qadhi. Proud and fanatical.
Known as ” Shaikh al-Islam,” he is thought to
exercise considerable influence over Ibn Saud in
religious and non-religious matters.
(2) Muhammad ibn ’Abdul-'Aziz ibn Sheykh,
nicknamed as-Sahabi, formerly Governor of Taif,
transferred to Riyadh in 1932 as Assistant to the
Amir Sa’ud.
(3) ’Abdul-Latif Family. —Four sons and a
probable grandson of a descendant named ’Abdul-
Latif were among the ten signatories of the declara
tion of Jihad referred to under (1). No. (2) and the
mother of the Amir Faysal (q.v.) also probably
belong to this connexion.
13. 'Abdul-Wahhdb Abu Malha.
A personage of consequence in ’Asir, possibly of
the Sheykhly family of Malha near Sabya, although
this cannot be affirmed. W^as described in 1927 as
Director of Finance in ’Asir, and was in that year
one of four delegates sent by Ibn Sa’ud to negotiate
with the Imam Yahya. Probably still has the title
of Director of Finance and commanded the Sa’fidi
forces which entered Sabya in November 1932.
14. 'Abdur-Rauf as-Sabbdn.
Born in the Hejaz probably between 1888 and
1393. Grandson of an immigrant from Egypt.