File 2006/1917 'ARABIA: ARAB CONFEDERACY' [134r] (277/603)
The record is made up of 1 volume (295 folios). It was created in Mar 1917-Nov 1917. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
that your Confederacy is bom fide acting against the Turks, and also some
further proof that there is a likelihood of your success. The Turks are your
enemies and we wish to see them removed by Arabs from Arab lands. We
hope, oh friend, we shall shortly hear more from you which will enable us to
give the assurances asked for.
Enclosure No. 4.
No. 393, dated Aden
Residency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
, the 2nd—6th June 1917.
From —Major-Genekal J. M. Stewart, C.B.,
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
, Aden,
To — Al Amir Ash Sharif Abdurrehman bin Hussain bin Alawi, of Saba.
After compliments. —Your letter from El Khofl has duly reached us. We
note that you have duly received the rifles and ammunition for which fact we
are thankful.
Your news is good and we are pleased to hear it.
Oh friend, you know that our desire is to see the Arabs rule the Arab
lands. This can never he the case until the Turk is removed entirely from
the Arab lands. Any movement therefore that goes bond jide against the
Turks we thoroughly approve of. Our Government, however, need proofs of
bond fides and also something to show that success is likely. We trust we shall
shortly hear from you and others reassuring news on these points.
We have received Nakib Yehia bin Yehia Ash Shaif’s letter and a reply
is sent through the Sharif Ahmed Am Mohsin of Behan.
We regret, oh friend, that we can get neither a telescope nor binocular
to send you. We send you Es. 500 as a present for yourself.
* Enclosure No. 7, Serial No. 54.
Enclosure No. 5.
No. C.-395, dated Aden
Residency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
, the 2nd—5th June 1917.
From —Major-General J. M. Stewart, C.B.,
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
, Aden,
To —Sayid Mahomed bin Yehia bin Al Hadi bin Al Muayed Billah bin Al
Kassim, the President of the Ulemas and Ashraf League of Yemen.
After compliments. —We have duly received and noted the contents
of your leter,' dated 5th Bajab 1335
(27th April 1917).
With pleasure and joy we note that you and the Ulemas and Ashraf and
the tribes have decided in your own minds that the time has come to
combine and turn the Turks out of the Arab lands. Oh friend, you may be
sure that any action taken by you with that object solely in view must
receive our recognition, provided you can show that it is likely to succeed.
Before considering any question of assistance the Great Government require
from us an assurance that your movements are bond fide directed against the
Turks and some proof that you are likely to succeed.
We would he glad to see you take action against the Turk and turn him
out. And we hope shortly to hear from you again that you have done so and
are succeeding. We wish to hear all details and to be kept posted fully
with all that is going on.
Enclosure No. 6.
No. C.-396, dated Aden
Residency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
, the 2nd—5th June 1917.
From —Major-General J. M. Stewart, C.B.,
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
, Aden,
f Sheikh Sarhan bin Sarhan al Mahjabi.
J „ Hassan Dahksh al Jabri.
To —•{ „ Rajeh bin Rajeh al Nafsti.
| „ Husein bin Mohsin al Kaiji.
h „ Husein bin Morshed al Ghuzzi.
After compliments. —Oh friends, we have received your three letters,!
t Enclosure No. 12 , Seri.iNo. 54 , dated Jomad Akhar 1335 (April 1917)
and have seen and interviewed your
messenger.
About this item
- Content
The volume comprises correspondence, telegrams, summaries, reports, notes and other papers concerning the support given by Britain to the tribes of South Arabia [present-day Yemen] in 1917, chiefly in relation to Britain’s principal wartime aim of ousting the Turks [Ottoman Empire] from the region and securing the Aden Protectorate.
The papers notably cover:
- British relations with Saiyid Muhammad bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Ahmed bin Idris, the Idrisi [Sayyid Muhammad ibn ‘Alī al-Idrīsī, ruler of the Idrisid Emirate of Asir], including the 1915 agreement with the Idrisi in return for his attacking the Turks; financial assistance (subsidy) for arms, ammunition, hirelings and transport; the Idrisi’s recruitment of Hashid wa Bakil (also spelled Bakill and Bekil in this volume) and British doubts about the loyalty of these ‘mercenary’ (f 259) tribesmen; British concerns over the Idrisi’s effectiveness against the Turks and his predominating enmity towards Imam Yahia bin Mohamed Hamid-ud-Din of Yemen [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn, also referred to as 'Imam Yahya' in this volume]
- British policy towards the 'Arab Confederacy' of tribes formed around May 1917 (also referred to as the 'Yemen Confederacy' in this volume), including concerns over its potential effectiveness and lack of concrete victories against the Turks; and meetings with various Arab tribal chiefs explaining their intentions or applying for assistance from Britain
- British relations with the ‘neutral’ Imam Yahya, including a concurrently open-door and non-committal policy; avoidance of decisions or actions that could cause the Imam to stop ‘sitting on the fence’ and ally with the Turks; the Imam’s approach to the British in July 1917 offering support in exchange for territory, the removal of the Idrisi, and a position as sole leader in Yemen (the British politely declined the offer)
- Division of opinion between the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in Aden, and the First Assistant Resident in Aden and Government of India, regarding the risks in either supporting or not supporting the Arab Confederacy; the viability and true aims of the Confederacy; and whether or not it was likely the Confederacy would to turn to Italy if Britain prolonged delaying assistance.
The principal correspondents are: Major-General James Marshall Stewart, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Aden; Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Fenton Jacob, First Assistant Resident, Aden; Saiyid Muhammad bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Ahmed bin Idris, the Idrisi [Sayyid Muhammad ibn ‘Alī al-Idrīsī, ruler of the Idrisid Emirate of Asir]; Imam Yahia bin Mohamed Hamid Ud-Din of Yemen [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn] (also referred to in this volume as Saiyid Yehia bin Mohamed Hamid-ad-Din, Al Mutawakil, the Commander of the Faithful, and as Imam Yahia of San’a / Sana’a [Sanaa] and 'Imam Yahya'); senior officials of the Government of India at Simla [Shimla]; Secretaries of State and diplomats of the Foreign Office and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. in London; General Sir Reginald Wingate, British High Commissioner in Egypt; Ronald William Graham, Foreign Office diplomat. Also included are translations and summaries of numerous communications from and between various chiefs of Arab tribes in Yemen.
The enclosures date from 1917 but some include content (mainly printed documents) dating from 1916.
The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (295 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 295; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Multiple intermittent additional mixed foliation/pagination sequences are also present. A previous foliation sequence in part of the volume, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/683
- Title
- File 2006/1917 'ARABIA: ARAB CONFEDERACY'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:8r, 8ar:8av, 9r:23v, 27v, 30v:35v, 37v, 40v:46v, 48v, 50v, 51v:78v, 79v, 81v, 84v:193v, 194v, 195v, 196v, 198v, 200v, 201v, 202v, 203v, 204v, 205v:208v, 210v, 211v, 213v:255v, 256v:265v, 271v:275v, 277v:278v, 280v:283v, 285v, 287v, 288v, 291v:295v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence