File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎288v] (581/898)

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brother, Emir Abdullah, his son, Emir Eaisul, and some thirty notables, and
continued their functions thereafter in his name. . , ,
I informed the Sultan that, as the disarmament was practically completed and
the h&ids of the Provisional Government and army had submitted, my duties as
intermediary were now finished.
I thanked him for his helpfulness and generosity throughout the negotiations,
and assured him that His Majesty’s Government had allowed me to act as inter
mediary solely on humanitarian grounds and to prevent further bloodshed in their
holy land, to'assist in bringing peace and prosperity on the country, and to assure
the' safety of the pilgrimage for the millions of true Moslems whom His Gracious
Maiestv King George V had for his loyal subjects. tt- at • + >
The Sultan, before his full divan, replied, warmly thanking His Majesty s
Government for allowing their representative to act as intermediary, and thanking
myself for the noble and successful task which I had accomplished in preventing
further bloodshed and assuring the safety and prosperity of Jeddah and its people ,
He thanked His Majesty’s Government and myself m his own name, the name ol his
people and on behalf of the Moslem world. n ,
He went on to say that all Western Powers had allies, and that this was also
most essential for Oriential Powers, and that his sincere friends were the British
only, and that he had, and would have, no relations with any other European 1 ower,
U 1( y QJ* S nielli
& This last the Sultan repeated several times with much vehemence and sincerity
lending power to his expressions by clenching his hand and emphasising each word
with a motion of his clenched fist. T ^ ,. . , , -,1
He continued, stating that according to the Holy Word, his religion and laitn
he is bound to recognise and execute the treaty existing between Great Britain and
himself and that he is in full accord with his friends and allies the British people,
whose politics were his politics, and that as long as the British respected two thnigs
which he held dearer than life and for which he would shed his last drop of blood,
that is to say, his religion and his honour, there would, " InshaTlah always be the
closest ties of friendship between himself and his people and Great Britain. He ended
by again thanking His Majesty’s Government and myself. , TJ . A/r . , ,
Other than the above and in order to show how much the action ot His Majesty s
Government was appreciated by the Sultan Abdul Aziz, I enclose a letter
(Enclosure 9) forwarded by him to this agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. on the 20th instant, together with
several telegrams, and Nejd flags to be handed to the kaimakam,m which the following
appears- “I am sincerely thankful for the splendid services you have rendered
to your Government and for your efforts to prevent bloodshed amongst Moslems.
For such services you will, ‘InshaTlah, attain honour in all the Moslem world.
The Kaimakam of Jeddah was also most profuse in his thanks and insisted
upon embracing me with his hairy face on each cheek. „ n
This ordeal I again sustained with great fortitude on the occasion ot my tareweii
visit to Kino- Ali on the morning of his departure. He. in order to show his gratitude
to His Majesty’s Government, insisted on doing it twice, once when 1 arrived and
also when'I left the ship, much to the delight of some sailors who were on the
quarter jleckan Abdul Azlz entere d Jeddah on Wednesday morning, the 23rd instant,
accompanied by foot and horse troops, himself riding at the head of his horsemen.
\ reception was held, which all foreign representatives attended m uniform,
as well as all the notables of Jeddah and the population who flocked to see the
spectacle^ ^ g the Sultan has maintained all civil employees in their posts for
the present, but certain changes are meditated in the near future, particularly m
customs and quarantine administrations. ^ n
I take this opportunity of bringing to the notice of His Majesty s Government
my appreciation of the help I received during this difficult period from the staff
of this agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , who helped me unfailingly throughout „ , n T ,
Also particularly the good work done by Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. Ihsanullah, whom I employed
as interpreter during this period on account of his known ability and discretion
and his knowledge of local affairs, and whose invaluable help was of the greatest
assistance •
I enclose also (Enclosure 10) a translation of an identic note sent to all foreign
representatives in Jeddah by the Sultan on the evening of Christmas Day.
S. R. JORDAN.