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File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎323r] (650/898)

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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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On the second page appears a long article dealing with the future disposition
of troops after the Hajj. The paper says that His Highness the Sultan gathered
a meeting of his generals and heads of troops and asked them to follow his advice,
which was that those who were of old here will return home and be replaced by the
newcomers. They first refused and declared that they wanted to remain, but
His Highness insisted on the first decision.
They at last complied.
This being accomplished, the forces were divided as follows :
1. An army of ten £ ‘ Alwiyah ” under Feisul-ed-Duash will be sent to the north.
2. An army to besiege Jeddah.
3. An army to encamp at Bahra and Mecca as reserve.
The rest of the troops not required were sent back to Nejd.
The intervention of the Russian and Persian consuls for peace is also referred
to in this number, and “ Umm-al-Kura ” says that the news was published in the
Egyptian papers before it appeared in “ Umm-al-Kura ” itself. This shows that the
facts which were denied by those consuls reached the papers by some reliable means.
(2.)— Issue of July 23, 1925.
General Proclamation.
From Abdul Aziz-bin-Abdul Rahman-al-Feisul-cd-Saud to all our Brethren
of the Moslem World.
PRAISE be to the name of God than whom there is no God but Him, and
salaams and blessings be on the Prophet, &c.!
I have discussed with the Indian delegation sent by the Caliphate Committee
and the ulamas the questions that the Moslems are interested in and want to know
our views as regards them.
Sincerity and straightforwardness were observed by us during the discussion,
and, thanks to God, we came to a conclusion as regards all the questions dealt with.
To beat down the lies of the enemies of truth and supporters of corruption who
profit by disunion of the Moslems and try to put out the light of God by their false
endeavour so as to affect the sentiments of the simple Moslems who are not aware of
our conditions, I made a proclamation of the following, so that those who died would
have died on evidence and those who live will have to live on evidence :—
1. I have to thank the nations that adopted towards us the position of the
supporters of right and I have to thank particularly the Indians for their attitude
towards the Arabs and their cause at the time when the Arabs themselves were busy
with their quarrels and forgot their duties towards religion and country. I have to
thank the Indians because they were the first to answer the call—may God give them
the best reward for us and for Islam.
2. I still maintain my declarations about what I invited Islam for, namely, to
have a universal conference to examine the questions of Hedjaz that interest the
Moslems in general, such as mending roads, securing peace and comfort for every
visitor and providing means of communication as far as possible. Thus we and
they will share the responsibility of governing the Hedjaz. The invitations to this
conference will be renewed after means of communication are attained.
3. Independence of the Hedjaz should be secured in the same manner as we
preserve our lives and that we should not allow non-Moslems to have any influence
there, thus we observe the duties both of our religion and our honour.
4. Sharia Law is the universal law to be put in force in the Holy Land and that
the pious ancestors and the four Imams should be an example for our righteous path.
“Ulamas” from all countries will be consulted in all questions that require deep
investigation.
5. I assure you that Medina will remain a sacred place which should not be
violated. No murder or plunder should take place there. To preserve its honour
I contented myself with its siege, though this would require a long time and losses
in money. I can, by the grace of God, capture it in one hour, but I care for the safety
of the place and the people.
I have given strict orders to the troops not to enter it (Medina) until the enemy
surrenders.

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)’ [‎323r] (650/898), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/1115, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100084998362.0x000033> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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