"ملف 8/15 سلسلة الجزيرة العربية - ١٩٣٣-١٩٣٩" [ظ‎‎١‎٨‎٥] (٤٣٤/٣٧٠)

Cl
(50)
Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter No. P. Z. 5795/37, dated the 1st
September 1937.
Received on 26th September 1937 with Political Secretary's letter No. 36, dated
the 9th September 1937.
Letter from British Legation, Jedda, to India Office, London, No. 133
(.1137/249/8), dated the 3rd August 1937.
As I have already had the honour to report in my telegram No. 69 of
August 1st, the Amir Saud, accompanied by his brother the Amir Muhammad,
Sheikh Yusuf Yasin, and his suite, returned to Jedda on the 1st August.
2. On the previous evening a printed notice was received by me at a
late hour, setting forth the programme of reception ; the ship was due to
arrive about 8 a.m. His Royal Highness would be received at the Customs
quay, where the diplomatic corps would be looked after by a certain Jamil
Davud, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and so forth. I am informed by
some of my colleagues that this was the first occasion on which such a printed
notice has been circulated ; but I was evidently fortunate in receiving it the
previous evening, as most of the “ corps diplomatique ” did not receive it
till the morning of the reception.
3. Mr. Gault and I arrived at the Customs building at 8 a. m. and found
a large airy shed, elaborately carpeted and provided with chairs. A broad
central passage between two blocks of chairs led up to the seat of honour
behind which were about thirty other seats. The Chief of Customs greeted
us, and Jamil Davud informed me of my serial number in the diplomatic
order of precedence. The diplomatic corps were given seats on one side of
the central passage, the other side being reserved for great personages such
as the Guardian of the Keys of the Kaaba, the Director of Education, the
Censor of Morals, and many other persons of note, almost all of whom’ had
come to Jedda the previous day.
4. The Amir Feisal arrived soon after 8 a.m. and greeted the diplomatic
corps, the introductions being made by Jamil Davud. The Amir sat first
in the chair of honour, the chairs behind him being allotted to about thirty
members of the Royal family ; I was told that most, but not all, of them were
the offspring of King Abdul Aziz. The weather was sultry, and though the
customs shed has been well designed to catch any sea breeze which may be
blowing, the diplomatic corps, as well as some of the Arabs, seemed glad to
repose in their comfortable chairs and wait for the arrival of the Heir Appa
rent. Four aeroplanes circled round at intervals. The crowd included many
picturesque types of Arab ; merchants with their old-fashioned Hejazi hats,
young students, fierce soldiers with rifles and full bandoliers, and grave muj-
tahids from the Holy places all rubbed shoulders, making a many-coloured
throng.
5. At about 9-15 a.m. the Amir Saud and his companions arrived at the
quay and were escorted to the shed. The Amir Feisal and the other royal
personages having greeted the two Amirs very affectionately, all the other
Arabs thronged around to salute them, with kisses on the''face, or on the
hand, or with hand-clasps, according to rank. The Amir Saud behaved
with great dignity and charm, and appeared to me to be in excellent health
and spirits.
6 . The Diplomatic corps were presented by the Amir Feisal and Jamil
Davud. The Amir Saud shook hands with each. He then took his seat on
the chair of honour which the Amir Feisal had vacated, and various addresses
of felicitation were read or recited to him. The first was an address of wel
come, which contained a reference to the accident which had taken place in
Scotland ; the speaker’s congratulations on the Prince’s happy escape evoked
a burst of applause. The court poet then came forward and recited a lengthy
ode with much vigour and with flashing eyes. 1 was disappointed to observe
that he did not adhere to ancient tradition and recite his poem from memory •
he quite openly had his poem written on a paper in his hand, and referred to