File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎401v] (811/834)

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“ The Italians have not discontinued their political activities
in this country. They tried to import Italian dollars from
Massawah into the Idrisian ports, hut their currency was, however,
interdicted by the order of Seyyid Mustafa.
“ This was a clever attempt on the part of the Italians
to ingratiate themselves in Yemen, because at present the export
of silver from British territory is prohibited and extreme need o±
it is felt in this country. The people would have welcomed the
Italian dollars, and a large part of the Asir and Yemen trade was
liable to be captured by the Italians. The far-reachmg political
effects of flooding a country with the coins of another Government
are obvious. .
“ Sheikh Mohammed Salim, the Italian Agent m Massawah
and the leading distributor of Italian propaganda in Yemen, came
to Jeizan and Midi in my absence about a month ago and went
away after a very short stay.
“I met at Seyyid Senussi’s house a man named Sherd
Husein ibn Mohammed, son of the late Naib el Haram at Mecca.
Throughout the whole course of war he was in Constantinople,
and came to Egypt early last year. At Cairo he remained for
some months as the guest of Seyyid Rashid Rida, Said Mohammed
el Sherd el Idrisi (eldest brother of Seyyid Mustafa el Idrisi), a
man of pro-Italian sentiments.
“ Seyyid Mohammed el Sherif sent the above Sherd Husein
on a special mission to Jeizan through Massawah to try to induce
the Idrisi to invite him to his country, as he is desirous of visiting
his grandfather’s tomb as well as anxious to help the Idrisi in the
affairs of his kingdom.
“ Sherif Husein has had no encouraging reply from the Idrisi,
and has been kept apparently as a guest, but, in fact, as a prisoner
in Seyyid Senussi’s house at Jeizan.
“ Sheikh Abu Hadi of the Quhrah (see page 16) arrived at
Jeizan on January 12 to take his oath of allegiance to the Idrisi.
He was followed by a letter from his brother sheikhs (Ahmed
Khuzam, Ismail Baghawi, and others) in which they declared
that Abu Hadi was a treacherous and untrustworthy person who
had proved to have been in communication with the Imam, and
they did not wish him to be recognized as a sheikh of the Quhrah.
He was, however, confirmed by the Idrisi as Sheikh of Bajil and
returned there/’
Writing at a later date (February 24), Captain Faziluddin
states that the Idrisi summoned a council of war early in February,
when it was decided that his troops should make no further
advances, and, accordingly, instructions were sent to all his