IOR/L/PS/12/4109

The file concerns postal communications in the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd and, later, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The file covers:

• Desire of Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] to establish wireless stations in Hejaz and Nejd, 1926-29
• Proposed wireless communication between Riyadh and Baghdad, to be provided by the Marconi Company, 1929
• Training of local subjects, 1931
• Contract with the Marconi Company, 1931
• Establishment of postal communications between Hasa [al-Aḥsā’] and foreign countries via Bahrain, 1933
• New wireless stations in Saudi Arabia, 1933
• Proposed establishment of wireless telecommunications between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia: negotiations between Cable and Wireless and the Saudi Government, 1934-35
• Saudi regulations regarding importation and licensing of wireless sets, 1935
• Proposed conference at Jedda regarding wireless communications in Saudi Arabia, 1935
• Discussion with Governor-General of Sudan and Cables and Wireless regarding the Jedda - Port Sudan Cable agreement, 1935-40
• Post and wireless experts required by Saudi Government, 1938
• Communications between Saudi Arabia and the United States for use of the Arabian American Oil Company, proposed wireless station at Dhahran, 1944.

The file is composed of correspondence between: the British Legation to Jeddah; the Foreign Office; the India Office; the High Commissioner for Iraq; the Secretary of State for the Colonies; the Air Ministry; the General Post Office in London; the Legation of Hedjaz and Nejd to London; the Political Residency in the Persian Gulf; the Political Agency at Bahrain; the Viceroy and Governor-General of India in Council; Cable and Wireless, Limited (Imperial and International Communications Limited); the Committee of Imperial Defence; the Governor-General of Sudan; the British Embassy in Cairo; the Resident Minister in Cairo; the United States Embassy in London; the British Embassy in Washington DC; Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO); and the Commonwealth Relations Office.

There is a newspaper cutting from The Times, and extracts from Um al-Qura and Sawt al-Hijaz.