File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎43v] (95/834)

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LIBYA.
Situation in Cyrenaica and Tripohtania.
Desoite his previous announcement that he would be returning
Despite ms pie Sevyid Mohammed Idris was still
almost immediately to Dedaiim, . f rom
bolding a
conference with the Italians on several matters, amongst them
r -Sy established, post at M ’^ h As the Il ians ha™
not removed this post.it is apparent that bins P‘«“ s & "
satisfactorily dealt with at the conference. Meanwhile All Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
el-Abdia Who was sent by Idris to interview the High
Commissioner, has returned to Akrama, and Idris has written a
letter expressing his gratitude for the treatment accorded to his
delegate . 1 It is 8 possible that Idris has been waiting at Akrama
for the return of his delegate and that by now, he has definitely
set out for the west again.
There has been no further news of the I urkish agents m
Cvrenaica but it may be assumed that their activities have not
abated Undoubtedly the news of the Italian withdrawal on the
Isonzo front will be fully exploited by Nun and his satellites,
who are of course kept well primed by the Turkish wireless.
On the other hand it may be taken equally for granted that the
news of the disaster to the Turkish army in Palestine has been
religiously suppressed.
Of the Turkish prisoners captured at Gedabia some months
ao’o and sent by Idris to Kufra, the redoubtable Musa Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
el-Yemeni is reported to have died en route. News has reached
us from a French source that camels are reaching Kufia fiom
the Borku district and are being bought up at high prices.
All recent information about this remote stronghold of the
Senussi faith points to the sway of Idris being generally
acknowledged there. It may, therefore, reasonably be supposed
that this purchase of camels merely indicates a desire on the
part of the owners of gardens to dispose of their date crops.
At the same time the presence of a fairly numerous party of
Turkish prisoners renders the situation worthy of attention.
In past years the natives of Kufra have not been above raiding
Dakhla Oasis at the conclusion of the date season.
Some time ago a suggestion was submitted by the Italian
Government that an informal and friendly meeting should take
place between a British and an Italian officer for the purpose of
discussing the question of native traffic across the western
frontier at Solium. The suggestion has now been approved, and
the proposed meeting will shortly take place. It is interesting
to note that the Italian Government has temporarily suspended
the issue of all passports into Libya and has requested us to
postpone for the present the repatriation of a certain number of
Tripolitan internees, which had previously been agreed upon.