'File 11/44 Leading Personalities in Iraq, Iran & Saudi Arabia' [‎46r] (91/96)

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Finance. Left for Egypt in a huff in June. He
returned in the autumn of 1945, apparently recon
ciled. As head of the newly-created Department of
Pilgrimage Affairs, he has produced a more
reasonable tariff than usual and has shown himself
most forthcoming and helpful.
59. 'Abdul Kerim ibn Zeyd.
Appointed Governor of Qaf in 1936. Nephew of
’Abdul-Aziz ibn Zeyd (No. 5).
60. 'Abdullah Khawaiter.
Of Nejdi origin. Born about 1887. Intimate of
’Abdullah Suleyman and Hamad Suleyman with
A ^ whom he spent many years in Bombay. Head of a
section of the Ministry of Finance and may be a
coming man. Is spoken of as a rival to Muhammad
Surur (No. 58).
Najib Salha. Attended the Preparatory Committee
Meeting of the Arab Conference in Alexandria in
October 1944 with Yusuf Yasin and also the discus
sions which led up to the signing of the Covenant
of the Arab League in March 1945. Sent for to Jedda
June 1946 and on several subsequent occasions to
act for Shaikh Yusuf Yasin during the latter's
absence on Arab League business. It may be that
this practice will be followed on similar future
occasions.
Though Shaikh Khairuddin is probably un
scrupulous and something of an intriguer, he has
maintained good relations with His Majesty’s
Legation and has generally been friendly and help
ful, when he has considered it to be within his power
to be so. He is not anxious to assume responsi
bility in any form—but he is not unique in that.
In 1947 accompanied the Amir Nawwaf (q v.) on
a trip through the United States.
61. Asaf ibn Huseyn.
Appointed Governor of Najran and the “ territories
of Yam ” in 1934, after the conclusion of the Treaty
of Taif with the Yemen. Had previously been
Governor of Rus.
62. Ibrahim Shura.
Egyptian. Born about 1897. Came to the Hejaz
^m about 1928 as a teacher. Appointed head of the
^^"^ducation Department at Mecca in 1930. Friendly
with Sheykh Hafiz Wahba. Amiable but unimpres
sive. Has a smattering of English. In 1936
appointed head of the Sa’udi Pilgrimage Propaganda
Bureau at Mecca.
63. Jamil Baud al Musallimi.
Legal adviser, or assistant, in the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs. Born about 1906. A Hejazi trained
in Egypt. Good knowledge of English. Received
his present appointment vice Td Rawwaf (No. 35) in
January 1936. This was notable chiefly as a Hejazi
encroachment on what has been for some time
almost a Syrian preserve, and was attributed to the
influence of Amir Feysal. Jamil Daud is brother of
a pilgrim guide whose activities have come to the
unfavourable notice of the legation. Has been found
on many occasions obstructive and tactless. Is
probably neither very intelligent nor energetic. Has
shown himself latterly (1944) to be more co-operative
^in his dealings with the legation. Accompanied the
^YSa’udi delegation to the San Francisco Conference
' in April 1945. Appointed first secretary at the
London legation, August 1945.
64. Kamil al Qassdb.
Syrian. Born about 1875. Formerly Acting
Director of Education in the Hejaz under King
Huseyn. Later threw in his lot with Ibn Sa’ud and
became Sa’udi propagandist. Prominent in 1936
during troubles in Palestine on account of his
activities as Ibn Sa’ud’s go-between with the
Supreme Arab Committee at Jerusalem, where he
went from Egypt when charged with communica
tions from Ibn Sa’ud. Paid an unobtrusive visit in
summer of 1936 to the Hejaz, and in 1937 tried to
persuade Ibn Sa’ud to take part in a Moslem
conference on Palestine. In 1942 was fishing for the
post of Syrian representative to Sa’udi Arabia.
65. Khairuddin Zuraikli.
Syrian journalist.
Born about 1880. Editor of Al Qibla, Mecca
newspaper, official organ of King Huseyn for some
years. Later was Hashimite propagandist in Egypt.
Go-between between King Ali and Ibn Sa’ud. Later
joined the latter. Adviser to the Sa’udi Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in
Cairo in 1935. Now counsellor of the Sa’udi Lega
tion there. A crony of Shaikh Yusuf Yasin and
66. Muhammad Sddiq ibn Abdullah.
Born in Hejaz about 1888. In 1920 was principal
of the Military School at Mecca. Was commandant
of the Jedda garrison during last days of King Ali.
Left for Egypt in 1927.
An associate of Tahir ad-Dabbagh in anti-Sa’udi
activities abroad. At instance of Sa’udi authorities
was required to leave India in 1933. Subsequently
travelled in Iraq, 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 Palestine.
Returned with Tahir to Sa’udi Arabia under the
amnesty of 1935 and in 1936 was made successively
Assistant Director of Auqaf and Director of the
Census. Reported to be a man of integrity.
67. Seyyid Muhammad Shata.
Younger brother of Salih ibn Abu Bakr Shata
(No. 49). Born about 1908. Holder of an Egyptian
degree in religious law. Inspector in the Ministry of
Education. In 1935 member of an unofficial delega
tion for the collection of Waqf moneys in various
Islamic countries and India, which did not, however,
leave this country. In 1936 appointed Inspector of
Sharia’ Courts.
68. Muhsin at Tayyeb.
Moroccan by origin. Born about 1887. Held
police appointments under the Hashimite regime.
Under Ibn Sa’ud he was similarly employed.
Promoted at the beginning of 1936 from a post in the
Sa’udi police to be secretary and A.D.C. to the
Deputy Minister for Defence. Attached as liaison
officer to the British R.A.C. training unit which
arrived in Taif in May 1944 to instruct the Sa’udi
army in the handling of armoured cars presented to
the Sa’udi Arabian Government by His Majesty’s
Government. An intriguer who is not popular with
his colleagues and who in September 1944 was
replaced by a younger officer.
In 1947 described as an army inspector. He sits
in the War Ministry at Taif and acts as a staff
officer (Q) for the Minister of Defence. Has a
knowledge of French and served in the Turkish
army. A suspicious, crafty, clever and unlikeable
man who loves intrigue and is generally unpopular.
Has some knowledge of military matters but has
never seen a military unit since 1918 when he fought
in Syria against us. He has made little attempt
to hide his dislike of the British military mission.
It is believed that he fought in the Balkan War,
with King Hussein and, later, joined Ibn Saud when
the Hejaz w r as captured. He is said to have been
employed formerly by the King as an informer and,
possibly for this reason, may still be suspected.
69. Najib Ibrahim Sdlhd.
Of Syrian origin, educated at the American
College, Beirut. Born probably about 1902. Came
in 1927 to the Hejaz via the Sudan, where em-
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