Reforms of Crown Prince Saud During the Period (1370--1373 H /1950-1953)
All the reforms Prince Saud undertook under his father's supervision required at first a deep knowledge of internal problems that needed immediate reforms. In fact, the Second World War had numerous effects on the international society, it was also accompanied by technical development, and people were starting to demand separation from the past, as a result of slogans transmitted by media expressing a new vision for the future. In this light, Prince Saud tried to achieve his people s wishes side by side with their interests.
At the end of the Second World War, the international economic conditions worsened and had negative effects on the international economy and the international markets. The Kingdom that was relying on the income generated from the pilgrims and oil, was also affected by recession and negative developments which reached their maximum influence during 1369-1370H/1949-1950.
During 1368H/1948, two financial experts from the American Treasury, Mr. Eddy and Mr. Micksal, proposed linking the Riyal to the American Dollar in order to solve some problems. Prince Saud in fact, recognized that crisis in numerous meetings with the ambassadors and representatives of friendly countries. He asked their advice to face and solve such problems. He raised the issue to his father who ordered him to take the necessary action and advise him on a regular basis. After studying the situation with the experts and officials, and after consulting with some countries, he benefited from the Lebanese expert Najib Salha, in conducting regulatory reforms at the ministry of finance on (modern basis) The positive effect was clear on the financial situation. Then, the government began to benefit from the services of the American financial expert, Dr Young, and upon consulting him, in 1371H /1952; Sama Institution was established in order to play the role of the Central Bank and to regulate financial transactions within the banks. Its first president was an American Expert, Mr. Blowers. The Kingdom had also benefited from another expert's services, Mr. Dunaway, who helped in regulating Customs Administration.
Among those financial reforms, was issuing the third budget by the Government according to the current international standards in 1372H/1952. The first announced budget was in the year of (1948.) Within the framework of those reforms, along with the cooperation and coordination with friendly countries, Doctor Estratem came the director of technical cooperation to preside over 35 American experts with an elite of Saudi government officials in order to propose plans for technical cooperation and economic growth in 1371H/1952.
Prince Saud stayed in Hejaz for four and a half months, based on a demand from his father. During his stay, he made a general study about the administrative and internal reforms in the country starting with Hejaz. Among his aims he planned to regulate the administrative and financial systems, and to study the regulations related to developmental and vital projects. That study underlined projects concerning pilgrimage, water supply, broadcasting service and customs.
After finishing the review of the study, Prince Saud sent a telegraph to his father about the general outlines that he must solve, including on establishment of a panel of experts in Riyadh to study all Governmental activities concerning the financial, legal, religious, social and economical matters, etc... He asked him to choose those experts from Arab and friendly countries, to act under his supervision, with a direct link with the King and his advisors when there is a need for that. Prince Saud made it clear to his father that the role of those experts would be in the context of planning and consultancy not administration and execution.
When King Abdul Aziz received those proposals, he decided to postpone their implementation in Najd to a later stage, (because certain advisors around him who were afraid for their positions.)
But that couldn't deter Prince Saud from establishing a large selection of rules and regulations concerning important reforms in Hejaz. The Crown Prince's office issued "'Decree number 140" on the 29th of Muharram 1372H/19 October 1952, on such reforms which were called the reforms of the Crown Prince. The reforms determined new actions in several departments. They reorganized the Public Security's Administration, brought facilitating improvements on the regulations of the Legal Court and cancelled some fees on stamping of legal documents for being non Islamic, and reinforced and supported the activity of the Public Guidance Organization.
He continued his reforms and introduced a new plan to administer the pilgrimage issues, which were supervised by the general administration for pilgrimage and broadcasting. In fact, its foundation was based on his personal experience during the pilgrimage that year. Crown Prince Saud also reinforced the authority of the Ministry of Finance, and its supervision over the budget, expenditures and savings. He also established the General Directorate of Petroleum and Minerals as well as the Directorate of Public Works made to manage land reforms specialized in cultivated lands, and those that were ready for agricultural use, as well as digging water wells wherever necessary and founding Cooperatives Agricultural Companies. He also added to those reforms the establishment of an independent and general administration for Customs. Prince Saud crowned those reforms with the expansion of the Shoura Council in the Holy Capital Makkah.
In another decree issued by the Crown Prince's bureau, No 331 on 17 November 1952, he ordered a new regulation for the Shoura Council and ordered to increase the number of its members from 13 to 20 in Makkah.
However, the Prince's endeavor to establish a 5 member committee to supervise the interests of Hejaz in Riyadh was postponed. Those efforts had a very positive echo among the people. For example, the British Ambassador Pelham said in a secret report in 1372H/16 November 1952, "thanks to those reforms, the situation of the country was improving and all society classes were benefiting from them, although not in equal proportions".
During that period, King Abdul-Aziz appointed Prince Saud Commander in Chief of the armed forces and of the Internal Security Force in 15 Thul-Hijja 1372H /25 August 1953. That step reinforced his position as the second man in the country.
As a result of that appointment, he modernized the Saudi Army and the Air Forces, as he supplied them with arms and trained them under American experts on the latest war methods which would qualify Saudi forces to execute their national duties. He also expanded the Saudi Airline fleet when he purchased 4 planes of the type Sky Master and organized new trips inside the Kingdom and to Arab countries in order to transport the pilgrims.
After spending some time in Hejaz, Prince Saud visited the Holy city of Al Madina-Al Munawara, where he signed a large number of decrees dictating the establishment of new roads, schools and hospitals before he returns to Riyadh in the beginning of 1372 H /1953.
In a previous visit to Al Madina-Al Munawara Crown Prince Saud was told that there were some cracks in the Mosque's walls, and that it needed expansion. He transmitted this wish to his father, and he responded immediately by sending a message through the media to the whole Islamic world advising that he wants to expand the Mosque of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, in 4/2/1368H-5/12/1948. King Abdul Aziz asked Prince Saud to take the matter in his hands, who called for the best architects from Islamic regions to participate in the project. [1]
References
- ^ Subject: REFORMS UNDERTAKEN BY THE CROWN PRINCEThe struggle between the two princes, Edited by Ibrahim Al Rashid, P 70Annual review for 1949, Saudi Arabia Feb 28 1950, Confidential Political Diaries V. P.119