"ملف ١١/٢ يوميّات وتقارير: سلسلة الجزيرة العربية" [ظ‎‎٨‎٦] (٢٢٢/١٧٢)

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2 . I understand that the two aeroplanes, a De Havilland Dragon (as last year)
and a Tigar Moth, made the journey from Egypt in one day, leaving Cairo at 5 a.m.,
an improvement on last year's performance, when the flight was made in two stages.
Short halts were made this year at Tor, Wejh and Yanbu. The pilots are Mr. G. S,
Brown (flight-lieutenant R. A. F. Reserve) and Ismail Effendi Sidky.
3. Talaat Pasha, who called on His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires the day after
his arrival, left with his associates for Mecca by car on the 25th November. He i&
expected to leave here on the 28th November by air for Yanbu, whence he will visit
Medina by car, and return to Egypt by air on the 1 st December.
4 . I hope to be in a position to report more fully in due course on the objects
of this second visit to the Hejaz. Generally, I think, it may be assumed that the
mission will interest itself, as last year, in makirg arrangements for the reception
of Egyptian pilgrims coming to this country by the Egyptian steamers Zamzam
and Nil, and in taking further steps to establish here branches of the Banque
Misr.
5 . The mission do not appear to be the guests of the Saudi Government this-
year, and whilst in Jedda have been accommodated in the new premises taken
by the Banque Misr during the past year, which were originally intended, it is
believed, for the Soviet legation. Generally, it may be said that less publicity
has been given to this visit than to its counterpart of last year ; I have still to hear
of the broadcast distribution of piece-goods, etc., of Egyptian manufacture, whilst
this year the aeroplanes have not been activly engaged in treating the Jedda popu
lace to joy-rides.
6 . I was informed by my Egyptian colleague, some time before the arrival
of the mission, that Talaat Harb Pasha had requested permission of the Saudi
authorities to be allowed to fly to Riyadh to meet the King. I understand that
the Saudis have been unable to accede to this request.
7 . I am sending copies of this despatch to His Majest ’s Principal Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, Department of Overseas Trade, and to the Acting
High Commissioner for Egypt.
Enclosure to Serial No. ( 6 ).
Mr. Calvert to Sir John Simon.
(Received December 18.)
Letter from His Majesty’s Charge d’affaires, Jedda, to the Foreign
Office, No. 360, dated the 4th December 1934.
With reference to m.y despath No. 349 of the 27th November last [Serial No.
(())] relative to the Egyptian commercial and financial mission to this country, I
Lave the honour to report that Talaat Harb Pasha, Midhat Yaghen Pasha and
party (with the exception of Kem.al Bey Alui, who left the same day for Egypt by
Khedivial mail steamer) left for Yanbu by air on the 28th November and after
visiting Medina by car resum.ed their return journey to Egypt on the last December.
2. Talaat Pasha’s visit this year is shorter than was expected and only two-
whole days were put in at Mecca. By some this is thought to be due to his dis
satisfaction at being refused permission to fly to Riyadh to see the King. His
donations to schools and hospitals were on a modest scale, according to report, but
free distribution as charity of piece-goods and other Egyptian manufactures, which
had not taken place when I wrote my despatch under reference, was subsequently
undertaken on behalf of the Egyptian mission by the Jedda municipality on the
4th December.
3 . I learn that Talaat Pasha was primarily interested in arranging with the
Saudi authorities for further facilities this year for Egyptian pilgrims. The ship-
ing agents will continue to be Messrs. Haji Abdullah Ali Reza and Co., according
to their own account, and financial arrangements, which are said to include the
perception of Saudi pilgrim dues from the individual pilgrims by Banque Misr and
payment to the Saudi Arab Government in a lump sum, will be handled by Banque
Misr or separately appointed agents here. Two large motor-launches, to seat 100
passengers each, are to be brought here by Banque Misr in order to facilitate the
transport of pilgrims from, the outer anchorage in the heavy seas. The present
charges for sambuqs are to remain undisturbed, and the local interests involved