Papers on British policy and the Arab movement [‎167v] (338/380)

4
I he conduct of Mavia since the Turkish occupation of the Aden hinteriaiui is
recorded in a memorandum by Colonel Jacob dated the 10th May, 1916 ( 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. ,
Secret, B23I, 1916)
“The Mavia Sheikh concluded an agreement on the 19th February, 1915.
hie tried to do his part, but we did not conespond. Had we done so, the move to
Lahej would have been forestalled. Mavia has never taken an active part against
us. His arrival on the Data plateau was the result of the Amir’s coqu tting with
the Kaimakam of Kataba. Mavia deposed the Amir and put up a relative. He
then changed his quarters and went to Mavia. A brother of the present Ahdali
Sultan was deputed to meet him at Musemir. The house of Abdali, however, did
not approve of the ‘ Mavia agreement.’ The Abdali did not want to see a strong
ruler in that quarter under our flag, which was the programme we had proposed,
and to which Mavia had assented. The Abdali mission failed on acc< unt of the
maladroitness of its representative. Mavia would not lead the attack on L;ihej,
pleaded sickness, and was eventually put on the Turkish black list as pro-British.
He was not present at the occupation of Lahej, and has ever since then been
moving about in the neighbourhood of Mavia, while once, to deceive the Turks, he
led another movement on the the Dala plateau, this time against the Shairis. ”
In an earlier memorandum, dated the 9th September, 1915 (1 55634/15), Colonel
Jacob summed up the situation with regard to Mavia as follows :—
“IbnNasir Mukbil—known as Mavia—has foiled us. He expected to be kept
in his tract of Kumaira and Shurman under our aegis. He dislikes both Turks
and Imam. His adhesion to the Turkish cause—the result, I believe, of force
majeure, and also some diffidence in his mind of our bona fides, since we did not
move up to. meet him at Dala—though not necessarily indicative of any hostile
animus against us, will put him into a difficult position with ourselves when peace
is concluded. His country is very fertile and rich, as is also that of Hujariya, to
^ the south, which also Ibn Nasir Mukbil’s influence pervades, and even so far south
3ofl as.Sheikh Said. This country the Imam will covet. It should properly be ours, in
spite of our declared policy to hold aloof.”
1 his quotation appears to cover the main points that will have to be taken into
account when the time for settlement comes.
APPENDIX.
Text of Ayr cement of February 19, 1915.
T his agreement is inadg between Major-General D. G. L. Shaw, 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, on
behalf of the Great British Government, and Sheikh Haj Ali Nasir al Kamarani, on behalf of Sheikh
Muhammad hiasir Mukbil, Kaimakam of Shurman and al Kama-ira.
1* 1 he. 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, undertakes to pay to Sheikh Muhammad Nasir Mukbil the sum
of / 5,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. by instalments. The first instalment of 25,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. shall be paid at once through
Sultan Sir Ali-biu-Ahmed-bin-Ali, K.C.I.E., of Lahej. The remaining instalments will be paid
according to the discretion of 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. as advised by the said Sultan, and they both will
fix the amounts to be paid on each subsequent occasion. The sums which will be paid shall be deter
mined both by the extent of the work already done by Sheikh Muhammad Nasir Mukbil and by that
also which remains to be done by him in the future.
2. Should the sum of 75,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. prove insufficient for the end in view, viz., the expulsion of
Turks or their Arab allies—both of the Shafai and also the Zaidi creeds—who are actually co-operating
with the 1 urks, from the Liwa of Taiz, the British Government undertakes in the same way to give
still more monetary assistance in such quantity as may to Government seem sufficient aud essential.
3. Should any of the chiefs and sheikhs in the Liwa of Taiz call on 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. during
the duration of the fighting, and demand to be detached from the control of Sheikh Muhammad Nasir,
the Government (British) should assure such chief that he must be submissive to Sheikh Muhammad
Nasir, and should decline to accept his overtures.
4. When the fighting is over, and Sheikh Muhammad Nasir has gained the upper hand in the
Liwa of laiz, the British Government shall then recognise the chieftainship of Sheikh Muhammad
Nasir and his independence. They (Government) undertake to place him under their protection, and
to protect him from the aggression of any European Power or from the Turks.
5. In consideration of the above, Sheikh Muhammad Nasir Mukbil swears by the Great God
and undertakes to be true and faithful to this agreement in favour of the British Government, and
that he shall relinquish the friendship existing between the Turks and himself from the date of this