File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎265r] (538/834)

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NOTES.
King Husein and Jaafar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
In No. 207 of the Qibla, dated Dhul Qada 12 (August 19),
the following proclamation appeared :—
“ We have been honoured by the receipt of the following
proclamation from the exalted Hashimite court: Whereas the
title of Commander-in-Chief applied to Sheikh Jaafar, one of the
chiefs of the Army in the Northern Hashimite camp, is current
in certain circles, both in conversation and in private letters,
and whereas this is inconsistent with the truth, and the Arab
Government has not conferred this title on anyone nor defined the
ranks of the commanders, as other governments do, and whereas
the said Sheikh Jaafar is undertaking the supervision of a
section of that army and no more, now therefore the above
explanation is imperative.”
The effect of this notice was, for a time to paralyse the
activities of the Northern Army. Emir Feisal on August 29
telegraphed his resignation to his father, and all military
operations were suspended for several days, a mutiny among
the men only being averted by the tact and initiative of the
officers. The situation was the result of a misunderstanding,
augmented by intriguers in Akaba and Mecca. The intervention
of H.E. The High Commissioner and General Allenby brought
King Husein to reason, and his last messages show that he
appreciates their action, and that, so far as he is concerned, the
matter is satisfactorily ended.
King Husein and Yemen Tribes.
King Husein continues to receive communications from
sheikhs of distant tribes. In the beginning of this month, he
received a letter from Yahya ibn Yahya esh-Shaif, the chief of the
Bekil, who refers to previous correspondence with the King, and
tells him that he collected all the sheikhs of the Hamdan and
explained to them the contents of the former’s letter. He and
they present their homage to King Husein ; Yahya adds that
he is sending two of his sons to the King via Aden, He says:
‘•All are ready to obey your commands and answer your call.
We are all striving to obey and submit to Your Majesty in all
that tends to cement the brotherhood of Moslems in this world
and in the world to come.”
The Resident at Aden reports that some of the envoys have
actually arrived at Mokalla, but that it is undesirable they
should come to Aden at present. He has, therefore, given
instructions for them to be held up at Mokalla. Letters for
warded to Aden by Yahya’s two sons—Haji ibn Ahmed and
Mohammed ibn Yahya—indicate that their business is with us
and not with King Husein. It w T ould seem, from the mention
of a former messenger, one Seyyid Hamud ibn Ali, who is,
probably, the brother of their principal sheikh, Sherif Salih ibn
Ali, that the King is negotiating with the Hamdan esh-Sham.