Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [107r] (218/1062)
The record is made up of 1 volume (527 folios). It was created in 6 Jan 1929-15 Jan 1938. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
MS89FD
5. The revenue, which in the despatch under reference Was represented as
exiguous, has probably shown some improvement, but not of a nature to offset
expenditure the pilgrimage of 1934 exceeded 25,000, in comparison with 20,000
of the year before and pilgrim dues to the Government and activity in the bazaars
were stimulated m proportion. The prospects for the forthcoming pilgrimage are
still conjectural, but it may not be excessive optimism to expect a slight increase
again m 1935. The remarks m last year s report in regard to the generail level of
poverty of latter-day pilgrims still apply, although the efforts of Talaat Harb
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
, upon whose activities I have reported elsewhere, are directed towards in
ducing Egyptians of the wealthier sort to perform the Haj.
6. Customs receipts are still one of the several unkown factors in Saudi Arabia's
economic equation. One might perhaps hazard the opinion that there has this
year been a slight improvement. The small increase in the pilgrimage and the
partial liquidation of old stocks of goods in the hands of local merchants must have
exerted a favourable influence. Receipts, however, are mortgaged as has been
now the practice for some years by the system of drafts to which a reference was
made in the despatch under reference.
7. The Saudi Government’s revenue has been augmented this year, it is
stated, by the receipt during the early summer of £20,000 gold from the Standard
Oil Company of California, a sum believed to represent the second instalment of
the initial loan promised by the company under the terms of their Hasa oil con
cession. A further loan, said to be very small, is reported to have been obtained
in November from Talaat Harb
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
, and is thought probably to be secured on
Saudi pilgrim, dues, which will be paid by Egyptians during the forthcoming Haj.
Mr. Philby, at any rate, was made happy by being paid “ £ 2,000 or £3,000,” half in
cash and half in a draft on Messrs. Haji Abdullah All Ridha and Co., confidential
agents and importers to the Saudi authorities, not in respect, I understand, of out
standing debts, but to finance the import of motor vehicles in accordance with his
concession.
8 . Indeed, the position of the Saudi Government in regard to both their
internal and foreign obligations is as unsatisfactory as ever. Certainly no attempt
has been made during the year under review to meet the long outstanding debts
due to His Majesty’s Government and the Government of India, and Ibn Saud
appears unlikely to manifest any great readiness to do so in the near future.
9 . The Minister of Finance has continued to pursue a policy of rigid economy
in Government expenditure, although* the opinion has been heard that money, or
day to day requirements of an essential nature, is not so tight as was the case a
year ago. Official salaries are still seriously in arrear and for more than tiie nrst
six months of the Arabic year 1353 (until the end of October) Government servants
had received a bare two months’ salary, and that at the par la ea
110 piastres miri gold (£1 gold), whereas the current rate for rials had fluctuated
between 24 and 22 rials to the gold pound.
10. Saudi currency during the year has remained relativ^ steady and did not
show any marked tendency to depreciate after the last pto«e “ 1
m mv desnatch under reference. The rial rate varied with m the limits indicate
above, and at the time of Writing is 22, betraying again the customary apprecia ion
which marks the arrival of pilgrims from abroad.
11 The general tone of trade in theHejaz is stated to be somewhat healthier,
the manager (ff the Dutch banking concern here, the
chappij, stating that during the past year t ere a hd bills. This applied
and much less reluctance on the part o mere un s ~ ^ following figures
particularly to the past six months. I am m e e irnnorts and exports for
compiled by himself and, he insists, very tentative, of the imports and p
the Arabic years 1351 and 1352 :
Imports
Exports
1351.
£ sterling.
. 2,028,000
1352.
£ sterling.
1,657,850
150,685
iportant commodities, showed an
m-
Piece-goods and flour, amongst the more second year. The number
crease in 1352 over 1351, most others falling away m the seco y
About this item
- Content
This volume compiles printed copies of letters, telegrams, memoranda and newspaper extracts relating to Britain's involvement across the Arabian Peninsula during the period 1929-1938. Whilst the correspondence encompasses all matters concerning British interests in the region, much of it relates to Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] and the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia). Matters discussed in the correspondence include the following:
- Reports of unrest in the Hejaz.
- Relations between Imam Yeha Hamid-Ud-Din [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn, Imam of Yemen] and Ibn Saud.
- Reports of raids and arms trafficking on the 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 -Nejd frontier.
- Reports of the proceedings of British naval ships in the Red Sea.
- Details of the Akhwan [Ikhwan] revolt against Ibn Saud, including the movements of one of the revolt's leaders, Faisal Dawish [Fayṣal bin Sulṭān al-Dawīsh], and his surrender to the British in Kuwait.
- Relations between Kuwait and Nejd.
- Relations between Iraq and Nejd, including a proposed meeting between Ibn Saud and King Faisal [Fayṣal] of Iraq, and reports of a treaty of alliance between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
- Objections from the Hejaz Government to Royal Air Force aircraft flying over Nejd territory.
- The purchase of arms by the Hejaz Government from Poland.
- Ibn Saud's annexation of Asir.
- The death of King Hussein [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī].
- Harry St John Bridger Philby's conversion to Islam, his mapping of Rub-al-Khali, and his reported spreading of Saudi propaganda in the Aden Protectorate.
- The currency exchange crisis in the Hejaz-Nejd and the financial situation in the kingdom generally.
- Reports on a survey of the water and mineral content of the Hejaz coastal area.
- Relations between Soviet Russia and Saudi Arabia.
- The emigration of Jews from Yemen to Palestine, via Aden.
- British fears that Italy might harbour ambitions to annex Yemen.
- Saudi oil concessions.
- Italian-Saudi relations.
Prominent correspondents include the following: the British Agent (later His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires) at Jeddah; His Majesty's Minister at Jeddah; the High Commissioner for Egypt; the High Commissioner for Iraq; the High Commissioner for 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 ; 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. , Kuwait; the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. (later Chief Commissioner, and later still, Governor), Aden; the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; His Majesty's Ambassador to Iraq; His Majesty's Ambassador to Italy; the Secretary of State for the Colonies; the Minister (and Acting Minister) for Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia); Ibn Saud; King Feisal of Iraq; the Prime Minister of Iraq; various officials of the Colonial Office, the Foreign Office, the Air Ministry, and the Admiralty.
The French material in the volume consists of several items of correspondence and a copy of a treaty between France and Yemen, which was signed in April 1936.
The volume includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (527 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The items of correspondence are divided (roughly) into various sections. Each extract or item of correspondence within these sections has its own number, which is enclosed in brackets. These numbers proceed in ascending (and approximate chronological) order from left to right; however, the sections themselves proceed in reverse, from the rear to the front of the volume, in distinct groups (e.g. for 1929 numbers 1-23, which are located at folios 517-526, are followed by numbers 24-49 at folios 509-516, which are then followed by numbers 50-89 at folios 494-508, and so on).
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 529; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Pagination: each section of correspondence within the volume (as described in the arrangement field) has its own pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [107r] (218/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765164.0x000013> [accessed 19 August 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2071
- Title
- Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:5v, 6v, 8v:10r, 11r:14r, 15r:20r, 21r:21v, 22v, 24v:26v, 27v:30r, 32r:41v, 43r:46v, 48r:48v, 49v:52v, 53v, 55v:58r, 59r:60r, 61r:70r, 71v:77v, 78v:79r, 80v:81v, 82v:93v, 95r:101v, 102v:104v, 106r:108r, 109v:110v, 111v:113v, 115r:120v, 122r:123r, 124r:126v, 127v, 128v:130v, 132r, 133v:137r, 139r:154r, 155r, 156r:157v, 159r:166r, 167r, 168r:171r, 172r:174r, 175r:175v, 176v:177v, 180v:181r, 182v, 183v:184v, 187v:188r, 191r:198r, 199r:199v, 200v:201r, 202r, 203r:203v, 206r:207r, 210r:211v, 213r:220r, 223v:224v, 226r:226v, 228r, 230v:234v, 236r, 237r:252r, 253v:257v, 259r:260v, 262r:262v, 264r:268v, 269v:276r, 277v:278v, 279v:281r, 282v:285r, 287r:288r, 289r:292v, 295r:296v, 297v:307r, 308r, 309r:316v, 318r:320v, 322r, 324r:325r, 327r, 329r:331r, 332r:335r, 336r:337v, 338v:345r, 347r:348r, 350v, 353v:358v, 360r:363r, 364v:365v, 366v:371r, 372v:375r, 376v, 377v:379v, 383r:383v, 384v:385r, 387v:389r, 390r:391v, 395v:400v, 401v:412v, 414v:420r, 422r:433v, 435v:437v, 440r:447v, 449r:449v, 451v:459r, 460r:463v, 465r:468v, 469v:471r, 474r:477r, 480r:485r, 486v:492v, 494r:507r, 508v:511r, 512r:513v, 514v, 516r:518v, 520r:522r, 523r:528v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence
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