File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎177v] (359/898)

bein'’’ recalled to make his report, and that it was hoped to reassemble the conference
at some other town, preferably Port Sudan, in a month s time.^
6. Little progress appears to have been made towards the recognition by Italy of
Ibn Sand. The Italian consul is conducting negotiations with Ibn Sand by post a
laborious’ and unsatisfactory arrangement. He has hopes, however, of evolving a
“formula” acceptable to both parties. ,, , T . ! - ,
7 The ranks of the consular corps have been sw r o!len by the arrival of the new
Turkish representative, Abdul Ghani Sunni, who styles himself “ Representant
diplomatique de la Republique turque aupres des Gouvernements du Hejaz et du
Yemen ” The Director of Foreign Affairs is frankly pleased that Abdul Ghani appears
to be a’man of much less ability than his predecessor, and so a lesser power for evil.
He is unlikely to prove a social asset; he viewed with horror Dr. Cesano s proposal
that he should join the weekly consular card parties.
8. The Emir Feisal pays regular visits to Jeddah, though his presence or absence
either in Mecca or Jeddah has little or no effect on the. conduct of affairs. Popular
opinion has it that his concentration on the delights of his harem is such that he has
neither time nor inclination for affairs of State. His appearance and conversation
support this belief. It is regrettable that the only apparent quality he should have
inherited from his father is his philoprogenitive instinct. In the absence of Ibn Sand,
the Hejaz ship of State is indeed rudderless
9. Under the heading of public works in progress may be noted the new condenser
now being erected by two Scottish engineers from Merrilees M atson and the new
motor road from Jeddah to Mecca. 1 he former will be put into use before the Haj.
There is much scepticism as to the lasting powers of the latter. The system adopted
is to cover an 8-yard wide track of desert sand with large boulders, fill the interstices
with smaller stones, and then crush the whole with the aid of the recently imported
steam-roller. It is felt that in a short time the entire road will disappear into the
bowels of the desert, though optimists give the road a two years’ life.
10. An endeavour is being made by the Standard Oil Company, instigated by
Mr. Philby, to oust Shell Petrol from the Jeddah market. If Mr. Philby’s action was
prompted by a disinterested desire to see a reduction in the price of petrol in the
interests of the country he has succeeded. If, as is more probable, he wished to
introduce Standard Oil as a proposition paying to the company which he manages, he
has so far failed. The price of petrol has fallen from 10s. to 8s. a tin, and I understand
that the Shell Company are both willing and able to undercut the rival company.
Meanwhile, Mr. Philby’s staff and offices increase in size and cost without any apparent
reason. His expression of anti-Dritish sentiments is a constant source of amazement
to those who meet him for the first time and who fail to realise that he merely argues for
the sake of argument, and that his bark is much worse than his bite. He is a nuisance
rather than a pow T er of evil; the King, I am convinced, though he likes and admires
him, rarely takes him seriously.
11. The British colony, which already numbers fifteen, is to be increased by the
advent of two engineers, one to take charge of the new condenser and the second to
found a training school for chauffeurs and to supervise the Government workshops and
garages.
12. The arrival of numbers of chauffeurs from India, Aden and the Sudan has
resulted in an increasing number of complaints to the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . The wages of a skilled
chauffeur in the Hejaz reach £10 or even £12 a month, while the minimum wage is about
£7. Indians, Sudanese and chauffeurs in Aden presumably claim much lower wages
in their own countries ; they sign contracts before embarking binding themselves foi
two years for a monthly wage of £3 or £4, and on arrival find that this is not a living
wage. It would be well if publicity could be given to these facts with a view to
deterring chauffeurs from making contracts for service at less than the rates of pa)
prevailing in the Hejaz.
18. During the period under review five slaves were repatriated.
14. Some 5,000 nilgrims, including 800 Malayans, have already arrived for the
1928 Haj.