"ملف 8/15 سلسلة الجزيرة العربية - ١٩٣٣-١٩٣٩" [ظ‎‎١‎٣] (٤٣٤/٢٦)

22
Enclosure to Serial No. (23).
Letter from His Majesty’s Minister, Jedda, to the Foreign Office, No.
0.T.-24 (1548/1427/2), dated the 2nd June 1933.
One of the stock projects for promoting the development of this country on
modern lines is that of supplying the city of Mecca with electricity.
2. The Sa’Odi Minister of Finance who appears to be interested in this idea,
was recently approached on the subject by a philanthropic Indian gentleman,
Sheykh Muhammad Ibrahim Jawan Bakhsh, who is described as a leading merchant
of Calcutta The Indian Vice-Consul reports that at an interview between them,
at which he was present, Sheykh Muhammad Ibrahim expressed anxiety to secure
the concession provided that he could feel assured that the capital sunk in the
venture would be adequately safeguarded, a proviso which he considered would be
amply met if, in case of dispute he were allowed to invoke the assistance ot the
British authorities. Sheykh Abdullah Suleyman demurred to this, but indicated
that he was prepared to agree to a reference of disputes to arbitration, when anyone,
English or otherwise, might be selected as one of the arbitrators.
3. Sheykh Muhammad Ibrahim Jawan Bakhsh appeared satisfied with his
conversation with the Minister of Finance and subsequently addressed to him a
letter embodying his terms for the grant of the concession. I enclose a translation
of this letter.
4. The present electrical equipment of Mecca consists of some ten or twelve
separate plants, of which the most important are the one supplying the Haram,
one in the King’s Palace, three in palaces of Amir Faisal and one or two in Govern
ment buildings, the house of the Minister of Finance and possibly other members
of the Royal Family.
5 I am sending copies of this despatch and enclosure to His Majesty’s Prin
cipal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and to the Government of India.
Translation.
Letter from Muhammad son of Aslam, to Hon’ble Sheikh Abdullah Sulai-
man, dated the 23rd May 1933.
Regarding the Power House at Mecca.
After compliments. I had the opportunity this morning to converse with your
good-self over this matter. I lay before you some conditions, and the remaining
ones will be put forward after approval by the Company. I hope your good-self
will also offer your conditions at the earliest.
(1) The Government (Sa’udi) will grant the land, free of charge, required for
the Power House, which will be constructed for the public, and no tax for this will
be levied by the Government; the Government will give such land that may be
required by the Company. The Company will incur expenditure for construction
work, and the Company will be the owner.
(2) The Government will not charge the Company customs duty on accesso
ries, oils of every kind and machinery, &c., required for this work.
(3) The Company will pay you (? Sa’udi Government) 15 per cent, customs
duty for articles, such as lamps and shades.
(4) The Company will supply current and equip the Haram-Sharif free of
charge.
(5) The Company will supply current to the Government at 20 per cent less
than the rates on which the current will be supplied to the public. Tne cost of the
extra component articles for the current supplied to the Government will be
charged by the Company according to their fixed prices.
{Special).
‘(6) The Company will pay the Government 7j per cent, of the net profit
annually.