File 3300/1916 Pt 1 'Aden News Letters:- (June 1916-Dec. 1916)' [‎395r] (169/348)

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our co-religionist and moral adviser Sheikh Atik bin Ahmed came to us. He may
perhaps leave for your direction for the purpose of paying you a visit. If he did
so, and as he is one of the admirers of the house of apostle of God and as he con
tinues to exert himself in the interests of Moslims and resist the unjust parties on
the borders of the Shafai community for the sake of God, the Exalted, and as he
has, in consequence, undergone great expenses (especially at this stage) and as he
has passed by us and we shown him respect and honour as far as our ability could
afiord, we request you likewise to be favourably and liberally disposed him. A
man of your standard stands in no need for being initiated in respect of such
a Sheikh. You will have heard that letters have reached us from Zaidis in which
letters they desire us to go to them for the purpose of seeing them. They have
also stated in their letters that they would go to Haramaut and come to our
tract. As we hear that they are corrupt people we do not like to see them in our
country. We are not aware of your opinion. If you desire us to be of one mind
with you we want you to send us a reply purporting mutual co-operation and help
anent our borders and doctrine. Sheikh Atik will give you all full particulars.
Reply is solicited. May you be preserved. Salams to you and to those who may
be present at your place. Our brother Bubaker, other brothers and sons convey
to you their compliments.
After closing this letter we came to know that some letters were received by
Sheikh Atik from his country people wherein it was stated that the Zaidis were
marching against them and eventually they requested him to go back to them and
accordingly he did so from Habban for driving these enemies from the Shafai
country. May God help him and do good to all of us by means of his good acts.
We request you to help him. We send you the lad Alawi with letters containing
full particulars. Salams.
Copy of draft agreement from Saeed Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. which he desires the people of Hadramaut
to sign.
We, the undersigned, Chiefs, Munsabs, Sheikhs, learned man, heads of tribes
men and the merchants generally, do hereby denounce and relinquish the protec
tion, friendship, control of suzerainty which the British Government claim to
maintain on us and deny the same in toto. Wejree and relinquish our obliga
tions to them (British) and declare the self-government of our country accord
ing to the principles of our religion.
We hereby agree and admit that the Ottoman Turkish Government have the
right of governing and exercising powerful hand over us, that we are their subor
dinate and obedient subjects who obey and surrender to their rule and who
espouse their cause during the times of war and peace, inasmuch as the religion
and Islamic ties bind us to them by generations since times immemorial.
In conformity to the proclamation issued by the Sultan of the Islam declaring
sacred and religious war against England and her allies, we hereby denounce and
sever our relation and connection which the British Government assert to have on
us, and further undertake to support our sublime Ottoman Government and its
Sultans of the great Ottoman lineage, to be friends to those who befriend them,
and inimical to those who are hostile to them. We shall protect all their subjects
who come to country as traders, visitors, or travellers. To safeguard them and
their property and treat them with consideration.
We (agree) to refrain from entering into any foreign intercourse or alliance
without thl consent and authority of our Government We on behalf of ourselves
and descendants shall stick to this (from this day) till the day of resurrection.
We solicit our sublime Ottoman Government to publish this our Notification
ill the European Powers who have been thinking that we have placed our-
res un <ier the protection of the British Government so that they might know
t we refute and annul the protection which they (British assert to maintain
r us We ignore and do not care for it (British protection) and also do not care
those who acted as intermediary or endeavoured to enforce it. They should
ps*.