"ملف 61/11 VII (D 122) مسائل متنوعة خاصة بالحجاز ونجد" [و‎‎٣‎٤] (٤٥٤/٨٠)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Arabia). ^ ^ I November 2, 1934.
CONFIDENTIAL. Ief^/ Xll Section 2.
[E 6697/6697/25]
Consul Mackereth to Sir John Simon.—(Received November 2.)
(No. 57.)
Sir, Damascus, October 25, 1934.
I HAVE the honour to enclose a translation of a report published on the
23rd October, 1934, of an interview given by Fuad Bey Hamza, Deputy Minister
for Foreign Affairs to King Abdul Aziz-bin-Saud, to the reporter of the Ayyam.
2. I am sending a copy of this despatch and its enclosure to His Majesty's
Minister in Jedda.
I have, &c.
GILBERT MACKERETH.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Extract from the Ayyam of October 23, 1934.
Conversation between our Special Correspondent and Fuad Bey Hamza.
Q. WILL your Excellency tell me in detail what was the aim in present
circumstances of your visit to the European capitals?
A. I went to Europe on a private visit to take a rest, but I also took the
opportunity of meeting the men of Italy, Franee and Great Britain, of discussing
with them questions of interest to His Majesty King Abdul Aziz, and of solving
some of the outstanding problems. I visited Italy and met Signor Mussolini.
This visit served to confirm the good relations existing between the Italian and
Arabian Governments. I visited the French capital and met the men of its
Government and spoke to that experienced politician, the late M. Barthou, whose
death was a great loss to the French nation. He was an energetic man, and he
wisely steered French policy in the stormy sea of politics. I visited the English
capital and met the Hon. Sir John Simon, the Foreign Minister, and other men of
the British Government. I am glad to be able to declare that we succeeded in
overcoming many difficulties and in coming to an understanding about many
questions which are of interest to the Arab Saudi and the British Governments.
Q. Hejaz being one of the Governments that inaugurated the League of
Nations, is it the intention of His Majesty to use that right, having neglected so
far to claim it ?
A. Hejaz, which was one of the Governments which founded the League of
Nations, was then an independent country by itself. Now it is not.
Q. But the Government of His Majesty Abdul Aziz has inherited the Hejaz
Kingdom!
A. If we had inherited that, we should have inherited "also some other things
which are not in our interest. So is it better not to have inherited anything.
Q. Then is it not the intention of the Government of His Majesty to enter
the League of Nations ?
A. It is possible that this question is now under discussion.
Q. What about the negotiations concerning the Hejaz Railway ?
A. Negotiations on that subject are taking place between the Arabian,
French and English Governments. Probably a conference will be held shortly
to take a final decision about this railway.
Q. Is it not to the interest of Hejaz, Syria and the Moslem world to have
the line between Maan and Medina repaired and put into action, and leave other
questions to be discussed later ?
A. Among other questions considered during the negotiations, which took
place a long time ago, was the repairing of the line between Maan and Medina.
One of the subjects to be discussed by the conference is the way for securing the
necessary funds for repairing this part of the line.
[256 b—2]