مجموعة ٤/٦(٢) "عسير: العلاقات بين المملكة العربية السعودية واليمن." [و‎‎٥‎٥] (٧٩٦/١١٦)

[31 n—2]
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOYEB ENT
Q7
EASTERN (Arabia).
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 2,
[E 985/79/25]
No. 1.
Sir A. Ryan to Sir John Simon.—(Received February 13.)
Jedda, January 27, 1934.
(No. 22.)
Sir,
IN my despatch No. 15 of the 23rd January, I brought the story of the latest
phase of the quarrel between~Ibn Saud and the Imam Yahya up to the afternoon
of the 23rd January, when Mr. Calvert handed to Fuad Bey Hamza the personal
letter, a copy of which I enclosed in that despatch. There is little of importance
to add to what I have telegraphed regarding the later developments, but as Fuad
Bey is leaving for Abha to-morrow (not to-day, according to a telephone message
he sent me this morning) this is a convenient moment to bring the subject
up to date.
2. Fuad Bey read my letter in Mr. Calvert's presence. Before doing this
he informed him of his projected visit to Abha, of which I had heard from
Mr. Philby the evening before, and asked whether Mr. Calvert could put him in
the way of borrowing a sextant, as he hoped incidentally to do something to clarify
the geography of those regions. In the course of subsequent conversation he stated
that the Yemeni delegate who was to meet him was Seyyid Abdullah Ibn Wazir,
who until recently was in command of the Imam’s forces on the Asir Tihama
front. Fuad Bey expressed himself hopefully about the projected meeting and
described his outlook as “optimistic,” although, when using the word a second
time, he rather qualified it. He did not refer to the movements of the heir
apparent or to other matters of detail. He promised to convey my letter to the
King by telegraph next day and to acquaint me with His Majesty’s reply.
3. I had been anxious not to meet Fuad Bey personally until he had received
my letter. He called on me by arrangement on the morning of the 24th January
and we discussed the situation fully on the lines reported in my telegram No. 11_
of that day. I enclose a fuller account of our conversation, not including the"
sketch map referred to, which was merely a rough and extempore attempt to
illustrate what Fuad Bey was telling me.
4. Fuad Bey returned to Mecca that afternoon. When we parted he thought
it unlikely that he would start for Abha before the beginning of February, and
even spoke of the possibility of another visit to Jedda. On the 25th January,
however, he telephoned that he had had to expedite his plans and would be leaving
for Abha on the 27th. I expressed satisfaction at this, as it is obviously desirable
in the present highly electrical conditions that the meeting should take place as
soon as possible. A few minutes later, he again telephoned to announce that the
heir apparent had reached Abha on the 23rd January.
5. The Umm-al-Qura of yesterday published a brief announcement regarding
the proposed meeting at Abha, giving the names of the two principal delegates
and their dates of departure to attend the meeting. The object of the meeting
was categorically described as being “the conclusion of the treaty referred to in
the leading article in the last issue. ”
6. The same Umm-al-Qura announces that the heir apparent reached Abha
on the 24th January, i.e., one day later than Fuad Bey had said; that he has
assumed command there; and that he was accompanied by five junior piinces.
The fact that the Amir is to be definitely in authority at Abha is significant. As
vou will see by the enclosed record, Fuad Bey stressed the importance of sending
to the south a personage of sufficient standing to take decisions. It is possible
that the King has delegated to the prince wide powers to make either peace or war.
7. It is clear that the statement of the views of His Majesty’s Government
which I conveyed to Fuad Bey on the 23rd January, has in no way affected t e
nmirsft of events. I still consider it satisfactory, however, that the statement