"ملف 8/15 سلسلة الجزيرة العربية - ١٩٣٣-١٩٣٩" [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٤] (٤٣٤/٢٨٨)

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, | The students came under the charge of Qadhi Abdullah-Al-Sarhi
and fcaiyid Yahiya A1 Nahan, who, according to popular rumours, have
been charged with the task of arranging with the Iraqi Govt, for the
establishment of a Yamani Consulate in Bagdad. Nuri Pasha tells me
however, that these gentlemen have not been given any official duties other
than the care of the students under their charge.
i recen t talk with the Oriental Secretary, the Sa’udi Charge
re betra y ed a marked suspicion of the frequent visits of semi
official 1 amani visitors to Iraq and evidently feared that the Iraqi Gov
ernment, by encouraging such visits, were trespassing in what he regarded
as the exclusive sphere of influence of King Abdul Aziz A1 Sa’ud. °
4. I am sending copies of this despatch to His Majesty’s Minister at
Jedda and to the Political Resident at Aden.
( 86 )
Telegram from the British Legation, Jedda, to the Foreign Office
No. 120, dated 8th November 1936.
My telegram No. 118 of October 25th, supplemented by despatch sent
by bag October 28th.
A three-engined Italian aeroplane arrived from Rome, November 4th
apparently as present to Saudi Arabian Government. I understand that
it is an out-of-date Caproni and that two more are to follow bringing total
to six originally promised. °
2. I cannot believe that Yusif Yasin’s proposal was sincere.
(87)
Letter from the British Legation, Jedda, to the Foreign Office
No. 295, dated 27th October 1936.
In my telegram No. 118, dated October 25th, I reported that Sheykh
’Vnsuf lasm had inquired privately whether His Majesty’s Government
would be prepared to receive and to assist missions of young Saudis whom
the Saudi Government wished to be trained in aviation. I now transmit
a translation of his personal letter and a copy of my reply.
2. The history of aviation in Saudi Arabia is well known to you.
My predecessor reported on the subject in detail in his despatch No. 176
dated June 8th. The present position, so far as my information goes is
this. Of the six Italian aeroplanes (make unknown) which it was believed
were being presented to the Saudi Government by the Italian Government
only three have arrived, and of these only one has been seen in the air at one
time for some weeks past and two are stated to have received some slight
damage. I have no information as -to the use to which the machine
presented by the French Government is being put. The old British
machines (Wapitis) have not been used at all since the Italian aeroplanes
arrived. The young Saudis who were sent to Italy for training seem to
have returned nominally qualified to act as pilots, but little is known
about their performance as Saudi “eagles”. So faa* as my information
goes no Saudis have been trained as air mechanics, and this essential
part of the functions of aviation is discharged by foreigners, viz. three
White Russian refugees, and two Italians, wffio with an Italian' pilot-
instructor, were sent with the Italian aeroplanes.
3. I was at first inclined to see objections to taking action on a private
letter from Sheykh Yusuf Yasin. but I now see an advantage in this course
since if the request cannot be encouraged by His Majesty’s Government,
as I imagine it cannot, it can be rejected more easily than if it had been
put forward officially.