"ملف 61/11 VI (D 102) مسائل متنوعة خاصة بالحجاز ونجد" [و‎‎١‎٩‎٦] (٥٢٢/٤١٨)

29
employed in Damascus where he showed bitter hostility to the Hashimites.
Retired to Constantinople after the fall of Damascus. Eventually made his peace
with Ibn Sa'ud and returned to Sa'udi Arabia. Was selected in 1931 to be the
first Sa udi Charge d Affaires and consul-general at Bagdad, but has never
proceeded, possioly because of difficulties over finance, aggravated by hostility on
the part of 'Abdullah Suleyman. Showed signs about the end of 1932 of
intending to leave for Bagdad overland, but is still in the Hejaz.
P .S.—Appointed consul at Damascus, instead of Bagdad, in May 1933, and
left Jedda for his post on the 24th May.
83. Sadiq (or Siddiq).
The King's chauffeur. An Indian or of Indian origin. Born in the Bombay
presidency; is about 36 years old; came with Ibn Sa'ud from Riyadh in 1925;
had been in his service since about 1924. He was probably introduced to King
by either the Qusaibis or al-Fadhls. Worthy of mention in this strange country,
not only because he is said to be the only chauffeur the King will trust, but because
he has been concerned in buying transactions, which have carried him at least
once as far as London. Quite a clever fellow and said to have amassed some
£20,000. Was recently reported to contemplate the creation of a canning industry
at Wejh. Probably holds the speed record for Arabia, as he did the journey by
car between Riyadh and Mecca in thirty-one hours a year or two ago, and is said
to have reduced this recently to twenty odd. Some feat for a distance of about
600 miles over Arabian " roads."
84. Salih ibn 'Ahdul-Wahid.
Governor of Qaf. Transferred from the Governorship of Al-'Ala to his
present post in 1931. A man of no great standing, but of some importance as
being the Sa'udi Governor nearest to the Transjordan frontier and not a nice
neighbour by all accounts. Probably identical with man of the same name whose
appointment as Ibn Sa'ud's representative with the Idrisi was announced in June
1927 and who played an important role in the Idrisi s entourage, e.g., at the time
of the negotiations regarding the Red Sea Petroleum Company s concession m
the Farsan Islands.
85. Salih Ibn Abu Bakr Shata.
Aged about 45 to 50. Comes of a learned family in Mecca, where he was bom
Much employed on committees for Waqfs, grain distribution, T c.,
Hashimite regime. Fled to Jedda after the Sa udi c JP^ l } ie ^ al
of the Hejazi notables who compelled the abdication of King Huseyn t
1924 and rallied in due course to Ibn Sa'ud. Became one of ^
Amir Faysal in his capacity as Viceroy. Spoken of m 1930 as ^ PP s ® lb J® th
of Education in a Cabinet then rumoured to be m contemplation,^
rumour was true, the project was not pursued. When e ^ , given the
organised on its present lines early in 1932 and the Ami ^ i ^ is
Ministry of the Interior, as well < as others, Sah of it
assistant in that Ministry and is still the adminis i a ive
86 ' itrSr name from the district of r ^ ^ jd He ^Vmo^ver!
Kwo wive^from 6 the C famiiy of tL family have come to
notice in recent years, viz. :— ^ u nf
(1) Governor of Tebiik .mo. .taut rh. l»g.nn..g
Turkl -SS , r.ri.XrS™^ , r' U ^ S S
to which the seat of government was ] t ^ rLS i„ ir to reside at 'Abba and will be
just been chosen as Governor-General of Asir ro
succeeded at Skaka by— . „ desienate of Jauf-Skaka.
(S) 'Ahdul-'Azizas-Sdayn^ovemoraesiz
,> -\ t / q \ w (1} and (2) have been men of might m their
Little is known of No. (3), but ( )
setting.
i r