'File 11/44 Leading Personalities in Iraq, Iran & Saudi Arabia' [‎43v] (86/96)

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police to Hasa, he was given by Ibn Sa’ud the title
of al Muslih (The Reformer). Went on leave in
autumn 1945 and has not yet returned.
40. ’Abdur-Rahman ibn Mubarak.
Governor of Wejh. Little known to the Legation,
but worth mentioning because of the importance of
his post in relation to Egypt 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 , and
because he was one of the leaders of the forces,
with advanced base at Dhaba, employed against
Ibn Rifada in 1932. Is possibly a tribal personage
rather than an administrative Governor, and may
be of the family of Huseyn ibn Mubarak of the
Harb tribe, who was a power at Rabigh at the time
of the Arab revolt.
41. Muhammad at-Tawil.
A native of Jedda of Egyptian origin. Got a small
post in the customs in Turkish times and rose to be
Director of Customs in Jedda under King Huseyn.
Played a leading part in the movement of the Hejazi
notables to compel Huseyn’s abdication and the
accession of King Ali in October 1924. Remained
in theory Director of Customs only, but wielded great
influence under ’Ali, and was described as being
“ practically dictator ” in November 1925, after his
triumph in a dispute with Ahmed Saqqaf, the Prime
Minister, who decided to leave. Promised at that
time to devote to the cause of the Hejaz every penny
of “ certain economies ” which he had effected while
Director of Customs. Left the Hejaz on the fall of
Jedda, but returned in 1927 or early in 1928 and
started a motor transport business. Was said in
1928 to have been president of the Hizb-al-Ahrar al
Hijazi, but made his peace with Ibn Sa’ud after an
absence at Riyadh, which was described in February
1928 as a deportation. Was slow to receive official
employment, and was perhaps considered unsuitable
for such employment in the Hejaz, but was in
September 1930 placed at the head of a commission
to study and reorganise the financial and economic
situation in Hasa. Remained for some time in this
employment, despite rumours of assassination or
flight. Appeared to have tightened up regulations
and trodden on Qusaibi corns in the process, but not
to have made the Hasa Customs as paying as he
hoped. A capable and well-reputed man, liked by
the authorities at Bahrein, but he fell foul of the
Arabian American Oil Company to such an extent
that Sayyid Hashim was sent to look after their
business with the Government in 1935. At-Tawil
was recalled in 1936 and replaced by two separate
officials in his posts as Director of Finance and
Director of Customs. In 1938 appointed (against
his will) manager of the Nejd Motor Transport
Company. Since 1943 appears to have lived in
retirement on his estate in Hasa. The company is
now defunct.
42. Mustafa Badruddin.
Formerly Director of Customs in Jedda. A North
African or of North African origin. Born probably
about 1892. Was given a small post in the Jedda
custom-house some years ago, and later became
Director of Customs at Yanbu’. Transferred to Jedda
in the same capacity in 1930. A man of little ability,
obstructive and not very honest. Popularly supposed
to hold “ Axis views ” and certainly conceals very
well any affection he may have for the British. Is
reputed to be well in with gangs of dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. -men
smuggling goods across the Red Sea. Arrested in
May 1944 when a large consignment of gold was
caught being smuggled out of Jedda to Egypt.
Released shortly after. Finally dismissed in Decem
ber 1945. Now resident in Medina.
43. Ibrahim an-Neshmi.
Formerly Amir of Jauf. Said to be a Nejdi; to
have been originally a maker of native foot-gear;
to have been in Medina while the Hashimites still
held it; and to have escaped to the Sa udi side,
where his knowledge of the situation in Medina was
so useful that he was given a command. He appears
to have been employed at Tebuk and perhaps at
Yanbu’ in the ensuing years. He became notorious
in February 1930 for a large-scale raid into Trans
jordan similar to that of ’Abdul-’Aziz ibn Musa’id
(q.v.) about the same time. He was apparently at
the time already Governor of Jauf, a post from which
the King dismissed him about the end of the year,
not, it was explained, because the man was bad, but
because the King desired to eliminate causes of
quarrel with His Majesty's Government. Reappeared
subsequently as Governor of Al-’Ula, but was trans
ferred to an unspecified post in or about June 1933.
Later one of the more important subordinate com
manders in the Western Army on the Sa’udi-Yemen
border. Governor of Turaba in 1934 until September
1935, when he was appointed Governor of Najran.
44. Qdttdn Family.
(1) Yusuf ibn Salim Qaitdn, said to have been
originally a servant in a coffee-shop in Mecca and
afterwards of the original Qattan family whose name
he took. Became a guide for Javanese pilgrims.
Rose to be president of the Mecca municipality
under the Turks, but was still so uneducated that he
was said to be unable to tell “ the letter Alif from
a telegraph pole.” Became Minister of Publf^^^
Works under King Huseyn. Was said in 1930 to be
full of schemes connected with the pilgrimage and
the advancement of his son No. (2) below. Has
also come to notice as one of the agents concerned
with the properties of the Sherifian family.
(2) 'Abbas Qattdn, an ambitious man, born about
1901, who was himself president of the municipality
in Mecca in 1930 and occupied that post until Novem
ber 1945. Also formerly director-general of Waqfs.
45. Qusaibi Family.
An important merchant family in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
The legation is indebted to the political agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in
Bahrein for an account of them, of which a summary
appears in the Personalities Report for 1946.
The Qusaibis formerly had great influence owing
to their position as agents of Ibn Sa’ud in Bahrein
and buyers of his requirements for Nejd, as well as to
their wealth and their hold on many to whom they
had lent money. Their most distinguished debtor wa^
the King himself, who owed them in 1930 somethin/ ^
like £80,000, and who, although about half of this ?
had been paid off by June 1931, still owed them the
balance. Abdurrahman was given in the latter year
a roving commission to try and raise the wind for the
Sa’udi Government in Europe, but failed completely.
The relations of the Qusaibis with the King no longer
seem to be as close as formerly. They resented the
reforms introduced by Muhammad at-Tawil {q.v.).
They were driven by bad business to press the King
for money. He has of late employed other persons
to buy for him, but he is not known to have deprived
the Qusaibis of their general agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for him at
Bahrein. The Amir Sa’ud frequently employed the
Qusaibis to buy goods for him in Bombay, but was
said in April 1942 to have become dissatisfied with
them and to be employing other agents.
46. Rashid Family.
Former rulers of Hail. Little is known of the
remnants of this family once so powerful and later
so fallen, even before its final collapse, that it was
“ accounted infamous, even in such a land of
violence as Arabia, for its record of domestic
murders.” It deserves attention, however, because of
the possibility of its reappearance on the scene,
e.g., if the Shammar tribes from which it sprang
should go against Ibn Sa’ud. It is understood that,
after the fall of Hail, the King pursued a policy of