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File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎301v] (607/898)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (445 folios). It was created in 13 Mar 1924-18 Mar 1931. It was written in English. 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. .

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c
The three trains referred to in my last report did actually arrive in Medina, and
the fact is admitted in the Mecca paper, Ibn Baud’s official organ, but it adds that
precautions have been taken to prevent a recurrence of such an event in the future.
The Indian pilgrims who left Medina on the 1st October state definitely that the
Prophet’s tomb is untouched, and also that the Syedna Hamza tomb as seen from the
exterior is intact, as they were quite close to it and could see it distinctly.
8. At Yambo the Wahabis have been attacking on 'and off for some weeks past^jj
but although they advanced right up to the mud walls surrounding the town on the
landward side they were unable to press their advantage and eventually retired, and
are once more encamped some distance from the town. The casualties were not great
on either side, and the popular belief that the desert Arab is a wonderful fighter and
absolutely fearless would appear to be badly discredited by the events which have
occurred during the present hostilities between the Nejd and Hedjaz.
9. Wejh, which, in my last report I stated was rumoured to have fallen, is still
holding out, and the Wahabis do not appear to be very concerned about it, as there is
but a small garrison, incapable of any offensive action, in the town.
10. The local Government at one time during the month seriously thought of
occupying Kumfudah. It appears that several tribes in that direction are discontented
and appealed to King Ali for help. The military and naval experts considered the
occupation feasible and drew up plans accordingly. Two of the ships of the fleet were
to carry some 200 soldiers and disembark them under aeroplane protection, and the
dissatisfied tribes were to attack the town. But whether from want of courage or lack
of cohesion the plans were never put into force, and have, I understand, been filed for a
future occasion.
11. It is now quite certain that Ibn Baud intends to make a determined efibrt to
capture Jeddah soon after the conference at Bahra is completed, and to this effect
troops have been arriving from Riyadh in large numbers, and people arriving in Jeddah
from Mecca state that six fresh “ bairaks ” (standards) are now on the Jeddah-Mecca
road. This, with the three “bairaks” which have been investing Jeddah for months
past, would probably bring the attacking force up to about 3,000-3,500 men.
More are stated to be arriving around Mecca daily, and Mecca people speak confidently
of success in the near future. Eight guns are also supposed to be in position to bombard
Jeddah when required.
12. The financial situation is becoming more impossible as time goes on. During
the period under review only £2,000 would appear to have been received, and that from
Sayyid Saggaf, of Singapore. A draft for £6,000 from ex-King Hussein was also
received, but to date has not been met by the banks concerned. This no doubt will be
remedied in the near future. Against this the Government have had to pay for the
munitions from Egypt from their smaller reserve. No money whatever has been paid
to the forces.
After several Syrian officers, who were feeling the pressing need of liquid assets, had
been to the Ministry of Finance and said unpleasant things to the Minister as to the
disposal of funds received from the local administrations and demanded to see the
accounts, a most unfortunate accident occurred. It appears from the Minister’s
statement that, requiring a stimulant after the delegation of officers had left, he ordered
a coffee, and apparently a spark from the bottom of the “ ibrik ” (coffee-pot) fell on the
account books and muse have started smouldering and eventually broke into flame when
he was absent during the course of the afternoon. A set of new books has been
prepared.
13. The delegation from India is rumoured to be bringing a sum of approximately
250,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. raised during the successful Hedjaz propaganda campaign. It
appears also that Egypt is sending the usual charity money to Medina through the
local authorities on the advice of the Egyptian consul, who is stupidly pro-Shereefian.
This is rather a pity, as most of it will surely be side-tracked for military purposes.
14. During the month the usual autumnal influx of peacemakers has been very
pronounced. Firstly the Egyptian delegation and lately the Persian. The Imam Yahya
had also sent a rather peremptory telegram to both sides stating that the war is causing
much prejudice to and trouble amongst the world’s Moslems, and he proposes to send a
delegation to bring about peace. The liedjaz Government replied accepting his offer,
and Ibn Baud, as far as can be ascertained, replied much in the same strain as his reply
to the Egyptian delegation and his published declarations on the subject.
Both the Egyptian and Persian delegations left Jeddah primed by the local people
with the tales of savagery and vandalism of Ibn Baud and his forces, and both returned

About this item

Content

The volume mostly contains printed copies of despatches from HM Agent and Consul, Jeddah, to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, enclosing reports on the situation in the Hejaz (also spelled Hedjaz in the file) [now a region of Saudi Arabia], from January 1924 to December 1930, and related enclosures to the reports. These despatches were sent to the Under-Secretary of State for India by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The volume also includes 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. Political and Secret Department minute papers, which include comments on the reports, and indicate that the reports had been seen by the Under-Secretary of State for India and the Political Committee of the Council of India.

The reports are monthly for January to August 1924, May 1925, September 1925 to March 1927, June 1927 to June 1930, and December 1930. Reports between these dates cover shorter periods, except July and August 1930, which are both covered by one report, and September, October and November 1930, which are also covered by one report.

The reports discuss matters including the actions of King Hussein ibn Ali al-Hashimi of the Hejaz, including his attempts to gain recognition as Caliph, and the military and financial situation in the Hejaz during the war between the Hejaz and the Saudi Sultanate of Nejd [Najd]. They report on events of the Hedjaz-Nejd war including: the capture of Taif (September 1924) and Mecca (October 1924) by Nejd; the departure of the ex-King Hussein from Jeddah; the fall of Medina and Jeddah and the surrender of the Hejaz to Sultan Abdul Aziz of Nejd [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd, also known as Ibn Saud] (December 1925); and the formal assumption of the title of King of the Hejaz and Sultan of Nejd and its Dependencies by Ibn Saud (8 January 1925).

The reports following the annexation of the Hejaz by Nejd cover internal affairs, including prohibitions introduced for religious reasons, the Hejaz Railway, the financial situation of the Hejaz-Nejd Government, and the Hejaz Air Force. They also report on foreign relations, including: the publication of an agreement, dated 21 October 1926, between Ibn Saud and Sayyid Hassan-el-Idrisi, establishing the suzerainty of Ibn Saud over Asir; relations between Ibn Saud and Imam Yahya of the Yemen; the situation on the frontiers between Nejd and Iraq, and Nejd and 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 ; and the Treaty of Jeddah between Hejaz-Nejd and Great Britain (20 May 1927). They also report Ibn Saud being proclaimed King of the Hejaz, Nejd and its Dependencies (4 April 1927).

In addition, other frequently occurring topics in the reports are: the Pilgrimage [Hajj], including the arrival of pilgrims in the Hejaz, from India, Java and elsewhere, arrangements for the pilgrimage, the welfare of pilgrims, and the repatriation of pilgrims; and the slave trade and slavery in the Hejaz, including the manumission and repatriation of slaves.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (445 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 1707 (Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)) consists of one volume only.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 447; 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 4-444; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎301v] (607/898), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/1115, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100084998362.0x000008> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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