File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎306r] (616/898)

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communications however, he makes no mention of the Tomb of Hamaz and it
ETn, the Slz orLta^Th^f ^ to the success
attenamg me Medjaz propaganda, Ibn baud has now applied for permission for
severai of his followers to proceed to India to “expound the tenets of the Wahabi
faith and contradict the lying propaganda spread by his enemies, who endeavour
to gam by words what they cannot by arms. ” He is also endeavouring to purcha^
^ f powerful wireless installation for propaganda purposes 8 P cnase
Similar assurances as to the Prophet’s tomb have been given to the Kino of
Tgypt by Ibn baud in a message sent through the local Egyptian consul &
tv 1 f' T 1 i e p loc , al sltu ation has been enlivened by the return of one Tawil the
sir n “” ed in »>■ - ^ is
Tawil eelebrated his return by causing dissension in the Government and
eventually informed the King that Ahmed Saggoff, the Prime Minister would have
o resign or he would go away. The dispute at one stage became verV acute and
there were rumours of public demonstrations in favour of one or the other
Eventually the King persuaded them to join hands and forces to fight the common
enemy, and once more great threats ended in nothing. 8 common
, V’' Tu COn,J T' Ser ° n - whlc h ili® local people depend for their water supply has
been handed over to a private company of local people to exploit. The conditions
water per dav free d Thf all „ e f penses and .“PP 1 / the Government with 30 tons of
water per day free This will leave approximately 20 tons for sale by the exploiters
and will provide them with a handsome profit y exploiters
Just prior to the handing over of the plant, the Government, having no money
to buy coal were breaking up and burning sambuks to keep the engines working 7
The present company state that they hope to produce 60 tons of water per day and
are selling it at 6 piastres per kerosene tin. Provided they do not try to force quick
profits and overload the condenser, which is in a very dilapidated state, the new
arrangement should work satisfactorily.
O o .k The anniversary of the accession of King Ali was celebrated on the
7? ra be P tem h e r, and the consular corps was received at the palace at 10 a.m. In
the evening there was a display of fireworks.
18. Seven slaves have been repatriated during the period under report Six
by the courtesy of the Senior Naval Officer, Red Sea Patrol, and one woman by the
Khedivial Steamship Company. 17
hr filr Since writin g th e above I am informed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs
that three tram-loads of provisions have entered Medina from Maan This frankly
appears to me to be impossible, as ( 1 ) the line has not been used for some time and
must be covered m places with drift sand, and ( 2 ) it is hardly possible that the Wahabi
lorces who have been besieging Medina for some two months would not preclude the
possibility of trains entering the town by taking up a portion of the line as they
did m their last attack. J
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'nr ^ n0W P racticall y certain that Wejh has surrendered to the Wahabis
the last Khedivial boat from that port evacuated 2 cannon, 38 cases shells and
10 cases sm.a., together with 30 troops.
.21 Some 100 or so cavalrymen yesterday refused to serve and are in barracks
awaiting the arrival of money to pay their salaries, when they will return to Syria.
22 The Egyptian delegation has returned from Mecca and are leaving for
Egypt by the Khedivial boat on the 30th September.
23. During the last few days the King has on several occasions visited the
Italian consul, who has recently returned from short leave in Eritrea. It is
; rumoured that negotiations for the supply of munitions and a small loan are in
progress, but I have no confirmation to date.
24. The local authorities have started the usual peace propaganda in
connection with the arrival of Sir Gilbert Clayton, who is expected shortly to
negotiate with Ibn Sand on outstanding questions between Great Britain and Nejd.
S. R. JORDAN.