File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎9r] (22/898)

consisting mainly of courtesies but referring discreetly to the proposal regarding
the visit.
(b) The view finally agreed upon among the British authorities concerned
was that, if the proposal were accepted, Colonel Biscoe’s visit should be primarily
one of courtesy and that it should be left to Ibn Saud to touch on outstanding
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. questions, if he wished. It was hoped that, if the visit took place!
he would be unable to refrain from mentioning questions which he himself is
anxious to discuss, that this would enable Colonel Biscoe to broach similarly, if
only in general terms, the questions affecting Koweit which His Majesty’s Govern
ment have at heart, and that the interview might thus pave the way for eventual
formal negotiations. Unfortunately, for these hopes, it seemed more than likely
that, even if Ibn Saud were otherwise agreeable, the shortness of his stay in Nejd
and the slowness of communication with Riadh might make it impossible to
arrange the visit in time.
8. Bahrein (see section 13 of previous report).
No further information has been received regarding the proposals to develop
a trade and pilgrim route overland from the Hasa Coast to the Hedjaz. As
stated in the previous report (section 13), the realisation of this project might
affect the position of Bahrein as a transit port, but its success would probably
depend on its utilisation by pilgrims as well as traders. The “ Muslim Outlook,”
of Lahore, in its issue of the 8th December, published an extract from “ Al-
Siyassat ’ ’ of Cairo (date not given) which may be mentioned here as bearing on
this subject, though it relates more directly to pilgrimage matters. The extract
reproduces a Tehran message to the effect that the Persian representative in Jedda
had stated while on leave in Tehran that a treaty of friendship and commerce
would shortly be concluded between Persia and the Hejaz. c< He referred,” the
passage goes on, ” to the new route for pilgrims crossing the Nejd territories and
affirmed that it was the exclusive monopoly of transport and communications held
by the Syrian and Iraqi companies, which led the Persian Government to decide
that the pilgrims from Persia should be carried through the harbours of the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , whence they would travel by automobiles direct to the Hejaz by the
new- road opened by the Government of His Majesty Sultan Ibn-us-Saud.” It
will be noted that the date of Habibulla Khan’s alleged interview is not given.
As stated in section 21 of the report for July and August a Treaty of Friendship
between Persia and Hejaz-Nejd was ratified on the 16th June last, some weeks
before the Persian Charge d’Affaires w ent on his long, long leave.
9. Yemen and A sir.
No information has reached the Legation regarding any developments in
Asir following on its practical annexation by Ibn Saud (see section 15 of previous
report), or the Imam Yahya’s reaction to this event.
^ • IH .^—International Relations.
10. Great Britain.
(a) His Majesty’s Minister returned to Jedda on the 19th December.
Fuad Bey Hamza came to Jedda to meet him, and brought cordial messages from
Ibn Saud. As Fuad Bey had to return to Mecca the same day owing to the King’s
imminent departure for Nejd and fell ill two days later, no opportunity arose
during the rest of December for the oral discussion of business.
(b) The question of the proposed appointment of Hejaz-Nejd consuls at
Bombay and Singapore (see section 16 (d) of previous report) continued to engage
atention during the month. The position at the end of it was that the Govern
ment of India had agreed in principle to the appointment of a consul at Bombay,
subjects to efforts being made to reduce to a minimum the danger of pilgrims
being subjected to inconvenience and extortion under passport regulations, while
the Government of the Straits Settlements were still reluctant to have a consul
at Singapore. His Majesty’s Minister was instructed, on the 24th December, to
endeavour to settle the matter as regards Bombay on the lines desired by the
Government of India. In a telegram of the 29th December, he suggested that he
should await Fuad Bey Hamza’s next visit to Jedda to discuss the matter orally,
nnd enquired whether the conclusions reached in London regarding Singapore
were similar to those of the Government of India. He proposed, subject to legal