File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎52v] (109/898)

himself and His Majesty’s Government and to make him appear to his subjects
powerless to defend them. He, therefore, urgently requests His Majesty s Govern
ment (1) to resolve immediately the question of claims arising out of looted property;
:(2) to inform him of measures taken by them to discover the criminals and their
instigators and to state the punishments inflicted; and (3) to take decisive measures
to prevent further hostile action and to punish evildoers, whatever their mstigatf i
6. In connexion with the raid carried out by the Emir-bin-Musaad against
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 tribes, the British Charge d Affaires in Jedda addressed a note to the
Heiaz Government on the 10th March informing them that there was much distress
among the victims of this attack, and requesting that the looted property might be
immprli^t.plv "foriuGr owners independently of the Question of 9 10 11
arbitration on past raids.
7. The Hejaz Government have replied that they have already expressed regret
for the raid and have ordered investigations, as it was carried out without previous
reference to the Government and without orders. They claim, however, that the
persons in question are those responsible for besieging Jauf and raiding as far as
Hail, and that Ibn Musaad was obliged, in order to preserve security in the frontier
districts, to pursue and punish them, and that he did so while they were in Nejd
territory. Nevertheless, they state, the Hejaz Government is prepared to deduct
from its original claims against the tribes of 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 property taken by
Ibn Musaad, and they propose to deal with those responsible for the attack in the
same way as the Government of 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 dealt with its subjects who encroached
into Nejd and who, they allege, recently seized over 10,000 camels. They assert that
the present sufferings of 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 tribes are a punishment for criminal action
in which they were engaged at the time, and they propose that relief should be
afforded from the possessions of Nejdi subjects which are in the hands of Trans
jordan Arabs. They intend shortly to forward to His Majesty’s Government full
details of recent occurrences in those regions.
8. Information was received at the end of the month of a serious raid carried
out on the 12th January by a large force of Hejazi tribesmen under the leadership
of Sultan-el-Faqir and Sabah-el-Morta’id of the Anriza, and Ibrahim-el-Neshmi
with a number of Nejd gendarmes or “ Zgurt,” who attacked the Nawasra, Darawsha,
Samihiyeen and Saleemiyeen sections of the Howeitat encamped at El Hofra in the
Jebel Tubeil. The raiders killed five 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 tribesmen and took 5,000 sheep
and 3,000 camels.
9. His Majesty’s Government have selected Mr. M. S. MacDonnell, formerly
of the Sudan and Egyptian services, and subsequently League of Nations High
Commissioner at Danzig, as investigator in connexion with the arbitration of claims
in respect of past raids in the Nejd- 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 frontier districts. It is considered
important that he should meet ibn Saud personally before beginning his work in
order to establish contact and ensure that all steps which may be considered necessary
are taken by the Hejaz authorities to facilitate his task. It is therefore proposed
that he should reach Jedda early in May. He would afterwards visit the Emir
Abdullah and then begin his investigations on the spot.
10. The religious committees, who were given full powers by the Government
to punish all citizens transgressing Wahabi doctrines (August report, 1928, para
graph 8), recommenced their activities early this month. The regulations issued by
these committees nineteen months ago had been allowed practically to become a dead
etter, and the local citizens, who had been congratulating themselves on the gradual
evanescence of the tiresome restrictions imposed, were greatly annoyed to find them
resuscitated by hetors or special police imported from Nejd, who carry out their
duties with deplorable efficiency. Moreover, whereas in the past these lictors had been
content to patrol the mam thoroughfares of the town only, thev have now been
combing out the more remote by-ways.. Small boys playing mouth "organs have been
t e first to receive attention. These diminutive miscreants are given a taste of the
cane and the offending instruments collected in baskets. Reports received from the
oca s op keepers indicate that these same musical instruments are finding their way
mck into the marvel. The culprits, in order to revenge themselves, have taken to
waylaying the president of the Jedda Committee at street corners and pelting him
Afl 6011 Hjd’ tf 16 Arabian equivalent of tarring and feathering, an attention
which is considered to be particularly contumelious.
11. The religious committees are now busily dealing with persons found guilty
of smoking, playing music, laxity m attending prayers, &c. These are soundly beaten
or taken off to prison. J