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File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎435v] (875/898)

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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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the two boats is about 1,400 tons gross register and can carry about 750 passengers—
most of them on deck, and that the price is about 9,000Z.
There is no doubt that King Hussein will make a determined effort to divert the
whole of the Syrian and Palestinian pilgrim traffic away from the Egyptian route. It
would be possible to adopt this policy from honest motives. Not all the ships bringing
pilgrims from Beirout and Haifa last year were properly conducted, and there is much
to be said for the complaint that the Egyptian restrictions on returning pilgrims are
unnecessarily vexatious. But King Hussein has probably other reasons, of which some
are doubtless (1) a desire to enhance his prestige and to increase his revenue ; (2) a
determination to score off the Quarantine Board by diverting much of the traffic which
would otherwise help to pay the expenses of the quarantine station at Tor; (3) a desire
to win the gratitude of pilgrims by helping them to escape quarantine at Tor (he may
think that Palestine and Syria will not adopt quarantine measures against the new
route). The prospect is not good, either for the pilgrims or for reputable shipping
companies. As the sea passage will be between the Hedjaz port of Jeddah and the
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 port of Akaba, there will be no international control over the conditions
in which the pilgrims travel ; and although in theory bad conditions should make
pilgrims avoid the Hashimite steamers, in practice pilgrims will be browbeaten by
political and religious propaganda into overlooking any defects in the arrangements.
The “Kibla” has printed a letter in which a Syrian suggests that the Hashimite
Government should levy higher dues on foreign steamers which bring Syrian pilgrims to
Jeddah. The suggestion, which is made as a counterblast to an alleged order by
the High Commissioner of Syria that intending pilgrims must travel by sea from
Beirout, is possibly based on a misrepresentation of an order published in November
last laying down the conditions to which all shipping companies desiring to carry
pilgrims from Beirout must conform. The Khedivial Company (British) will suffer
heavily from the Hedjaz Government competition, which will affect their cargo business
as well as their pilgrim traffic. When the Hashimite steamers are not carrying pilgrims
they will doubtless be open to carry cargo between one Hedjaz port and another, and
woe betide the wretched merchant who ventures to send his goods by a foreign line,
preferring honesty and the facility of insurance to religion and patriotism. If this
course is followed it should not take the King long to recover the cost price of
the boats, though, as no separate account will be kept, he will never know exactly what
the upkeep of the boats is costing and what the net profit is.
The Palestinian aeroplane pilot has less reason to sing King Hussein’s praises
than he had.. When he went to draw his last pay he was given 91. instead of ‘201., with
the explanation that, being an Arab, he is regarded as a military, not a civilian, pilot.
He also hears that he will not be allowed to leave until he has completed three years’
service.
Temperature for February.
Temperature at 10 a.m.

Maximum.
Minimum.
Dry.
Wet.
Average ..
81-2
66-1
78-3
72-6
Extreme ..
90-0
56'0
88-0
80-0
B. W. BULLARD.

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.

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English in Latin script
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File 1707/1924 ‘Arabia:- Jeddah Situation Reports. (1924-1930)’ [‎435v] (875/898), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/1115, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100084998363.0x00004c> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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