مجموعة ٦ / ٨ (١) "سلسلة مطبوعة: ١٩٢٩ إلى ١٩٣٨". [و‎‎١‎٤‎٧] (١٠٦٢/٢٩٨)

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CONFIDENTIAL.
( 1 )
fp ■ '/"l
S 3893 I
934 1
- (Received on 13th January 1934, ivith Political Secretary’s letter No. 52 'dated
0 28th December 1933.)
Lettek feom the Admiralty, to India Office, No. M.-03685|33:, dated the 22nd
December 1934.
I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit,
for the information of the Secretary of State for India in Council, extracts from
a report of proceedings of H. M. S. Penzance, covering the period 10th—30th
November, 1933.
A copy has been sent to the Foreign Office.
Enclosure to Serial No. (1),
Extracts.
Jedda.
i
8. The approach to Jedda was made without difficulty and the ship anchored
in the Inner Anchorage at 1100 on 18th November. The flag of the country was
saluted with 21 guns, which was returned promptly by the shore Battery.
9. Colonel Hamdi Bey called and presented the compliments of the country.
This officer fought in the Great War as a Lieutenant in the Turkish Army, and
is now the Director of Military Training for the whole Kingdom of Sa’udi-
Arabia. Though pleasant personally, it is difficult to imagine that he fills this
important post with much zeal or ability. His predecessor, a more efficient
German-trained officer, was dismissed for corruption.
10. In the afternoon the Commanding Officer, accompanied by Mr. B. W.
Seager (British pro-Consul) called on Sheikh ’Ali Taha and Sheikh ’Ali A1
Amari, respectively the Acting and Assistant Governors of Jedda in the absence
of Sheikh Abdul Aziz ibn Mu’Ammar, who was engaged at Mecca in a matri
monial venture.
’Ali Taha is a Hedjazi who has spent 25 years in Civil Service, firstly
under the Turks, then under the Hashimite dynasty, and! finally under the
present Wahabbi regime. His colleague is a Nedji.
The call of Colonel Hamdi Bey was then returned at the ^-Turkish barracks
at the outskirts of the town. The building appeared to be scarcely occupied ,
2 armoured cars were observed in the central courtyard, but were evidently m a
state of complete neglect.
11. The two Governors returned the Commanding Officer’s call on Monday,
20th November, and were accorded a salute of 13 guns on their departure.
Accompanied by the Maypr of Jedda (Sheikh Ali Salami) and Mr. Seager
they lunched with the Commanding Officer on 22nd November.
12. Mr. K. S. Twitchell, the American Mining engineer, was. m Jedda,
having recently returned from El Hasa, where he had been assisting e
Standard Oil Company of California in their prospecting operations whicli
terminated in the grant of an oil concession by the Sau dian. ■
Mr. Twitched made the journey across Arabia by car and lorry m ^jen da. s,
and since Mr. Philby has now embraced Islam, it is probable that he is the only
living Christian who has performed this feat.
13. As recently foreshadowed elsewhere, the affairs of Mr H ^ b.y'X
and his Sharqieh Company are by no means flourishing, and it seem, tat ^
terms of his concession for the importation of Ford cais ai tourney to
m-oving financially unsound. Mr. Philby himself was on a business journey
14. It is understood that the large Soriet Legation which hMds^tself much
aloof from the European community, does little business, and P^J * ^ the
to the pilgrims from Eussian territory. Tins maj p^ . o
official anti-God policy of the Sonet, and m this ^ , dealing with the
this attitude proves a definite commercial han ic p f |] y re p 0 .| 011S basis.
Wahabi;] Kingdom, founded as it, is so largely on a fanatically .eiyou
The same disability operates also in the Yemen. ^ ^
Lc49FD
INDIA F.MEK3N oF r
Ifv
Letter
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Dated z-O
No
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F?9
MAY. 1934
M.