Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [171v] (347/1062)
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.
Enclosure to Serial No. (23).
Tfttek from His Majesty’s Minister, Jedda, tothe Foreign Office, No.
0.T.-24 (1548/1427/2), dated the 2nd June 1933. ^
One of the stock projects for promoting the development of this country on
modern lines is that of supplying the city of Mecca wrth electricity.
2 The Sa’Odi Minister of Finance who appears to be interested in this idea,
was recently approached on the subject by a philanthropic Indian gentleman
Shevkh Muhammad Ibrahim Jawan Bakhsh, who is described as a leading merchant
of Calcutta The Indian Vice-Consul reports that at an interview between them,
at which he was present, Sheykh Muhammad Ibrahim expressed anxiety to secure
the concession provided that he could feel assured that the capital sunk in the
venture would be adequately safeguarded, a proviso which he considered wou d be
amply met if, in case of dispute he were allowed to invoke the assistance of the
British authorities. Sheykh Abdullah Suleyman demurred to this, but indicated
that he was prepared to agree to a reference of disputes to arbitration, when anyone,
English or otherwise, might be selected as one of the arbitrators.
3. Sheykh Muhammad Ibrahim Jawan Bakhsh appeared satisfied with his
conversation with the Minister of Finance and subsequently addressed to him a
letter embodying his terms for the grant of the concession. I enclose a translation
of this letter.
4. The present electrical equipment of Mecca consists of some ten or twelve
separate plants, of which the most important are the one supplying the Haram,
one in the King’s Palace, three in palaces of Amir Faisal and one or two in Govern
ment buildings, the house of the Minister of Finance and possibly other members
of the Royal Family.
5. I am sending copies of this despatch and enclosure to His Majesty’s Prin
cipal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and to the Government of India.
Translation.
Lettee from Muhammad son of Aslam, to Hon’ble Sheikh Abdullah Sulai-
MAN, DATED THE 23RD MAY 1933.
Regarding the Power House at Mecca.
After compliments. I had the opportunity this morning to converse with your
good-self over this matter. I lay before you some conditions, and the remaining
ones will be put forward after approval by the Company. I hope your good-seli
will also offer your conditions at the earliest.
(1) The Government (Sa’udi) will grant the land, free of charge, required for
the Power House, which will be constructed for the public, and no tax for this wilt
be levied by the Government; the Government will give such land that may be
required by the Company. The Company will incur expenditure for construction
work, and the Company will be the owner.
(2) The Government will not charge the Company customs duty on accesso
ries, oils of every kind and machinery, &c., required for this work.
(3) The Company will pay you (? Sa’udi Government) 15 per cent, customs
duty for articles, such as lamps and shades.
(4) The Company will supply current and equip the Haram-Sharif fr ee
charge.
than
(5) The Company will supply current tothe Government at 20 per cent, less
the rates on which the current will be supplied to the public. The cost o e
extra component articles for the current supplied to the Government
charged by the Company according to their fixed prices.
will be
(Special).
(6) The Company will pay the Government 7j per
annually.
cent* of the net profit
^conimei
|e
m
jfJOMTHE
ike to Sei
IMMTH]
mm sig
ai fin Alifi
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [171v] (347/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765164.0x000094> [accessed 11 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100061765164.0x000094
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100061765164.0x000094">Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎171v] (347/1062)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100061765164.0x000094"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000261/IOR_L_PS_12_2071_0347.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000261/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2071
- Title
- Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.'
- Pages
- 171v
- Author
- Bakhsh, Muhammad Ibrahim Jawan
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact [email protected] with any information you have regarding this item.
![Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎171v] (347/1062) Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎171v] (347/1062)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000261/IOR_L_PS_12_2071_0347.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg)