File 3300/1916 Pt 2 'Aden News Letters:- (Jan. 1917-Dec. 1917)' [‎307v] (614/620)

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Turks which he finds very difficult to revoke openly and in person, he may have
elected to open proceedings against them by proxy-using his son, I rather incline
to this view.
Again the Darwish mentioned above has just received a letter from his father
up-country telling him to collect men and return quickly to fight the Turks. The
father declares that some differences took place between the Imam and his son
“ but,” he adds, “ at heart they are on good terms. \ou are sensible and
understand a gentle hint. The son with large forces has proceeded [ ban awards
and has en rente occupied Khimr, A1 Tawda and A1 Rauda and captured a guns and
ammunition there. He is besieging San a no\y . He goes ° t e q °
not know the wishes of British Government or if they incline to befriend the In am.
Matters of interest for them (British Government), the Imam, and ourselves
should in that case be carried out under solemn engagements. He w ams his son
on his way back to beware of falling again into a Turkish trap. Ah baid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. is
dubbed “ the enemy of God.”
5 . Reports have come to Aden that looking to the emeHte pip-country, the
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. at Lahei has been advised either to attack Aden or retire on his lines of com-
munication. Another report is that in order to save the Yemen from foreign sway
and to placate the Imam, the Turkish Governor-General of the Yemen has been
ordered to place all the Yemen including Asir and all the available troops at the
disposal of the Imam. This ruse, if true, may seem clever and actuated by
desperation. In reality it could only create chaos, for the \emenis not going to
accept the Imam’s general rule, and any such action on the Turk s part would only
serve to embroil the Imam at the very outset and ruin his chances of winning our
tracts, as per his present policy, by diplomacy and finesse.
6 . Various stipendiaries are now answerirg the letters despatched some time
ago to them by the Abdali Sultan, who is very active propagandist here ; they say
that they will assuredly espouse our cause and the Abdalis, at the auspicious moment,
but they again insist on material support. This is not, I think, unreasonable.
The chief inconvenience felt from this war by our stipendiary chiefs is the
shortage of supplies from Aden. W e send as much as possible, but certain grasping
sea-board Shaikhs pass on supplies to Lahej and so for the sins of a few the many
up-country have suffered a little from shortage.
7 . Many Yafa chiefs have written congratulatory letters to His Highness the
Sherif of Mecca. The writers include the once pro-Turk Yafai Sultan Saleh bin
„ ^ , .,, . rnr Omer of A1 Mahbaiah. One of the writers
* Our Lord and Master the Ruler of Believers , , , J , T1 . tj* qc
and Protector of the two Sacred Cities—both of these letters styles HlS Highness as
styles arrogated by Khalifa. *“ Saiyiduna wa Maulana Amir Mu mmen
and Hand al Haramain ” and they rejoice in the independence of the Hejaz.
8 . The Idrisi is sending down nine gunners to be trained in Aden. He expects
to be able to win over Luhaiya very soon as his pour parlers with the tribes in
that quarter are apparently successful.
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 9th (received the 16th) December 1916.
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 fonvarded, with compliments, to the Deputy Secretary to the Govern
ment of India in the Foreign and Political Department, Delhi.
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