File 3498/1912 ‘Aden News Letters’ [‎200r] (410/598)

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SECRET.
India. Foreign Secretary’s
No. r* 8 M, dated
18 SEP 1913
36th Weekly Letter.
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 6 th (received 15th) September 1913
From— Major-General Sir J. A. Bell, K.C.V.O., 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. at Aden,
To —C. C. Watson, Esq., C.I.E., I.C.S., Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. ,
Special Department.
Disorder is still prevalent on the trade routes in the Fadthli country. In the
raid mentioned in paragraph 1 of my letter of the 30th ultimo two Abdali tribesmen
of the Manasira section were killed and it is now reported that two Haushabi Sheikhs
have been killed by the Fadthlis at a place called Haraar. Feeling is running very
high among the Abdalis at these outrages and the tribesmen may begin reprisals
any time. The son of the Fadthli Sultan, with some of his principal men, has,
however, gone to Lahej to see the Abdali Sultan about these matters and it is hoped
they will be settled satisfactorily.
2. “ Re ” paragraph 3 of the Weekly Letter of the 23rd August 1913. The
information about the German negotiations for the purchase of Rahaita was glean
ed by Captain Hankin, Assistant Resident, Perim, when he went recently to spend
a few days’ casual leave in Italian Somaliland and may be depended upon. We
have now heard enough to form an opinion that the rumoured German activity in
the Southern portion of the Red Sea is not a myth. It is more than a conjecture
that the Germans and Italians are working hand in hand, the former to have a
port either at Mocha or at Rahaita, on the other side of Mocha, and the latter to
establish their influence in Yemen through the Idrisi. I think it very desirable
that His Majesty’s Government should be informed that if they can get Turkey
to agree, the Government should obtain possession of Kamaran, which is one of
the finest natural harbours in the world. Farsan also is desirable.
3. As hinted in paragraph 2 of the Weekly Letter of the 2nd August 1913, the
Wazir Minister. of the Idrisi came to Aden via Massowa and called on Jacob. He admitted
that the Italians had given the Idrisi material assistance in money, arms, ammu
nition, etc., during the war with the Turks and stated that even now they were
assisting the Idrisi with everything he asked for. He asserted that, so far as he was
aware, there was no treaty or agreement between the Italians and the Idrisi and
that he could not say whether the Italians had any ulterior motives in assisting
the Idrisi. It seemed he was anxious for an expression of our friendship, but did
not openly broach the subject. Sheikh Saleh Balaxa, the Aden merchant, how
ever, tried to pave the way for him and give sufficient expression to the Wazir’s
mind. Balaxa stated that the Idrisi requires the shelter of some European Power,
that he prefers ours, but that, baulked here, he will place himself under the
protection of the Italians, though he does not like them because he thinks that
they left him in the lurch when they patched up their affairs with Turkey.
Jacob did not commit himself to any statement and bid good bye to Wazir Minister. Sheikh
Mahomed Yehia Ba Sahi with a formal expression of our friendly feelings for his
Master.
4. It was gathered from the conversation with the Idrisi s Wazir Minister. , that the
Turks have cut off the Idrisi pretty effectively from the sea, but that they have
left the fighting by land to the Imam and Ibn A1 Haij ; that the Idrisi is not afraid
of being overwhelmed by them, especially as the Sharif of Mecca is at present hold
ing aloof and not co-operating against the Idrisi.
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 6 th September 1913.
Endorsed by 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. , Aden.
Copy forwarded, with compliments, to the Deputy Secretary to the Govern
ment of India in the Foreign Department, Simla.
G. M. Press, Simla,—No, C*363 F. D.—16-9-13,—-16.—E, 4.
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