"ملف ١١/٢ يوميّات وتقارير: سلسلة الجزيرة العربية" [و‎‎٧‎٧] (٢٢٢/١٥٣)

Sha’ibi tribe and confirmation from the Naqib of Mausatta of Upper
Yafa’, that Sheikh Muhammad Muqbil Mutahar Mana’ As Saqladi has
been duly elected as successor of his late grandfather Mutahar Mana’ As
Saqladi.j
2. Believing this selection to have been in order, I accorded recognition
to Sheikh Muhammad Muqbil Mutahar Mana’ As Saqladi and authorised
the payment (to him of the stipend previously enjoyed by his predecessors
in accordance with the Authority contained in Colonial Office despatch
No. 22, dated the 30th May 1929.
(98)
(Received by Air Mail under No. P.Z. 7198/34, dated the 23rd Novem
ber 1934.)
Letter from His Majesty’s Charge d’affaires, Jedda, to the Foreign
Office, No. *2945/196/40, dated the 6th November 1934.
I find at present little in the general situaition to justify a more formal
report, but there are one or two matters which appear to call for mention
though perhaps inappropriate to a despatch.
Amir Feysal left (with Sheykh’ Abdullah Suleyman) for Riyadh yester
day evening, a visit which has been impending, according to report, for
some time. It was said he was awaiting the arrival of Talaat Pasha Harb
by air from Egypt, but the Pasha has failed to appear, (though tents were
erected and the landing ground prepared several days ago) and is now said
to be due aboujt the 22nd November.
Feysal is reported to have been summoned to Riyadh by his father in
connexion, the know-alls here would have us believe, with certain differen
ces which have been making themselves felt between Feysal and Saud.
Jealousy between these two brothers is, I believe, an old story but is said to
have grown considerably sharper of late. As I have generally indicated in
the Jedda Report for October the reasons given are numerous. Saud is
said to be sore that Feysal should have got the lion’s share of the kudos out
of the late war with the Yemen- He is jealous, too, of Feysal’s growing
popularity in the Hejaz where .the latter’s more easy-going and pleasure-
loving temperament suits the public taste more than the Nejdi religious
intolerance to which they have been accustomed. Saud' may, moreover,
have an eye on the possibility of the demise (or abdication) of the King and
may distrust the presence of his younger brother, gradually establishing
himself more securely in the saddle, in the Hejaz, the chief source of the
wealth of Saudi Arabia. He may, also, imagine Feysal’s relations, as
Minister for Foreign Affairs and after his journeys abroad, with foreign
powers to be specially intimate; and probably has little use for Fuad Hamza
and may suspect the tour of European capitals upon which he has recently
been engaged.
Feysal, I believe, has denied the report that he goes to Riyadh to be
married, and confided to his intimate friend, Suleyman Gabil, recently that
he was thoroughly fed up.
I must apologise foij retailing so much gossip, but it is, I feel, interest
ing and should, I think, be recorded.
For the rest, there is nothing fresh to report about the situation at
Teima; and Fuad Hamza has still to arrive back frpm his tour (thoucj/l
gather from a recent despatch from Baghdad that he might go over there
first).
(Copy sent to Bushire.)