ملف ٢٠٠٦\١٩١٧"الجزيرة العربية: حلف العرب" [و‎‎٢‎٣‎٨] (٦٠٣/٤٨٥)

J3 2>80
From Resident, Aden, loth May 1017.
(Repealed to Simla, and High Commissioner, Cairo.)
(Received at India Office, 7 p.m.)
dm A1 Mu a} ed hdlah bin A1 Kasim of Kasim house of Saids of Sanaa
Letters reached me on 7th May from (1) Sherif Behan, (2) Yehia bin Yehia
Ashshaif, (3) Aminash Sherif Abdur Rahman bin Hussein of Saba. The
purport of all these letters is that tribes of Yemen have decided to over
throw the present Imam, to support as his successor a son of Said Mahomet
bin Yehia mentioned above. His name has not yet been made public in
Yemen, and to eject I urkish troops from Yemen- Conversation with chief
messengers confirmed this proposition. Movement is supported by (1) Said
Mahomet bin Yehia bin A1 Hacli, (2) Yehia bin Yehia Ashshaif, (3) Sherif
Abdur Rahman bin Hussein of Saba, (-1) Sherif Ahmed bin Mohsin of Behan,
(5) Kaid bin Ahmed of Hajaria, (0) Nasir Mabkhut, (7) Nakib Ahmed bin
Yehia Ain Fari, (8) Said Abdulla AL Washiri, (9) the whole ol the Hashid
and Bakill tribes. Also it is stated by messengers, by Sherif Abdulla Ad
Damain and Hizam As Saar. Sherif Abdulla Ad. Damain has lately been in
friendly correspondence with this Residency. Handbook of Yemen gives
details of these persons.
They show that it is a strong and representative confederacy, and indicate
that there is a fixed determination to depose present Iman, who has lost all
hold over tribes and clings to Turks as his hope, even though he may be
well disposed to us and Sherif of Mecca.
The Idrisi apparently is cognisant and favourable to plot to depose the
Imam and eject the Turks. He does not know of intention to instal a new
Imam ; it is considered probable that he will co-operate with any Imam than
the present one, and that each will be content with his own sphere of
influence. Possibly due to this scheme Idrisi so far does not appear to have
made much progress with Hashid and Bakill.
The letters and messengers say confederacy must have some strong
power behind them and they prefer British. It is not impossible that visit
of S.S. “ Massowah ” to Jaizan on 24th April, the evasion of our regu
lations by many Italian dhows, the recent Italian requisitions from India
for large quantity of wheat, the residence at Sanaa of Signor Caprotti and
prolonged stay in Aden of Captain Perduci of Italian ship “ Lido ” may
have some bearing on case.
The messengers state that even without our assistance action will be
taken as they are committed to it ; the assistance they ask for is arms and
ammunition, transport and money, and to-day, 14th May, a messenger has-
arrived. He belongs to Kharif section of the Hashid tribe. He has brought
letters from Sheikh Sarhan bin Sarhan A1 Mohjani and four other Sheikhs of
Kharif section. These letters confirm above intelligence, also that the
movement was started about October last and lias now taken definite shape.
It appears that some action has already commenced and differences reported
some months ago between Imam and his son had reference thereto, the son
mentioned being really Said Mahomet bin Yehia A1 Had! above mentioned ;
from this correspondence and information I think we must accept the fact
that Imam Yehia is totally discredited. 1 should be glad to receive very
early order as to recognition I should give to confederacy.
(Repeated to Resident, Aden.)
[P 20061 Foreign Secret.