File 3300/1916 Pt 2 'Aden News Letters:- (Jan. 1917-Dec. 1917)' [‎302r] (603/620)

SECRET.
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JL
1917
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52nd 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 30th December 1916.
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From—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. at Aden,
To— J. E. C. Jukes, Esq., Acting 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. , Political
Please see paragraph 1 of last week’s letter. The Fadli Sultan, with a few
petty Sultans has returned to Lahej. It is said that he has been offered the
Sultanate of Lahej. This post was given to the Haushabi Sultan after the occu-
pation of Lahej m July 1915!
2 - A messenger has arrived from Shaikh Raid bin Ahmed, the rival Shaikh
of the Hugariya, with a verbal message for the Abdali Sultan. Shaikh Raid says
he was m Sana before the last U (i.e., before 8 th October 1916), where he went
to ask release from prison of Shaikh Hassan. There he met the Nakib Yahya bin
\ ahya al Shaif, the principal Shaikh of Dhu Husein (Bakil), who said, “ If the Abdali
Sultan will induce British Government to give us war materials we will create
a disturbance in the Yemen and besiege San a, Ibb, and Taiz. The British Govern
ment should then take action towards Lahej. Plenty of Zaidis would come down
to attack the Turks and I will give my sons as hostages to be kept in Aden.” Shaikh
Raid then sent two Zaidis Hamid bin Haji the Nakib’s nephew into Aden as
a hostage , and Abdallah Dohwa. these two men returned to the Hugariya as
they did not know the safest route to Aden. Shaikh Raid told his messenger that
if the British Government would send ammunition it should be despatched either
through Rotaibi Shaikh or through Bajil (Hodeida-San'a route), or waRhokha.
The Abdali Sultan in passing us this news asks for a speedy reply.
[This Shaikh Raid has always been a rival of late Ahmed Noman of the
Hugariya and in the time of the late Sultan Sir Ali bin Ahmed of Lahej (December
1914) he made overtures to us for arms and ammunition wherewith to oust Ahmed
Noman, the Turkish nominee. At that time we did not wish to tackle the
Hugariya, as we were aware that the influence of Ibn Nasir Mukbil pervaded this
tract and we had hoped to arrange all matters with his assistance. The Hugariya
is a very rich tract and the Abdali Sultans have long coveted a slice out of it.]
As the Hashid wa Bakil tribesmen are being approached by the Idrisi, it is
not considered politic to promise assistance at this time and on purely verbal
communication to the Dhu Husein Shaikh. It is enough to know from many
diverse sources that these up-country fighters—the best in the Yemen—are
available on occasions and if ample largess is given them.
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 30th December 19]6 (received the 8th January 1917).
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, Foreign and Political Department, Delhi.
ENCLOSURE IN
! INDIA FOREIGN SECRETA
Letter. No. A. M
G. M. Press, Simla.—No. C 671 F.P.—11-1-lf
Dated 12 JAN 1917
Received 2 FEB 1917
1C—B.A.