IOR/L/PS/12/2101

This file relates to the ownership of property in the Hejaz (later Saudi Arabia) by foreigners. The early correspondence in the file (1930-1931) relates to the estates of deceased British Indian citizens (and one Chinese national). The remainder of the file's correspondence is chiefly concerned with the status of private properties in the Hejaz belonging to the Hashimite family. Much of this correspondence documents the progress of negotiations for the aforementioned properties to be restored to the Hashimite family; further correspondence speculates on the possible impact on Hashimite properties of Saudi regulations introduced in October 1934 (a translated copy of which is included in the file, at folios 39-44) which, it is reported, state that foreigners may not own immovable property in the country.

The file features the following principal correspondents: His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan); the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir John Simon); the High Commissioner for Transjordan (Arthur Grenfell Wauchope); the British Resident, Transjordan (Charles Henry Fortnom Cox); His Majesty's Ambassador in Baghdad (Sir Francis Henry Humphrys); His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires to Jedda (Cecil Gervase Hope Gill); the British Consul General, Kashgar (Frederick Williamson); the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India; Nuri Al Sa'id [Nūrī al-Sa‘īd], former Iraqi Prime Minister; officials of the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department, and the Government of Bombay's Political Department.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.