'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎57r] (113/434)

Enclosure 2 to Serial No. (59).
MOVEMENTS OF ITALIAN VESSELS IN THE RED SEA.
Letter from the Commanding Officer, H. M. S. Penzance at Aden, to the
Senior Officer, Red Sea Sloops, dated the 19th February, 1934. [Copy of
Staff Officer (I), Malta.].
Submitted with reference to Staff Officer (I), Malta, O. S.-7|34 of 10th Janu
ary, 1934, and your message 1144 of 13th February, 1934, H. M. S. Penzance
visited Perim for a few hours on 16th February, while conveying the Sa’na
Mission to Aden, and the opportunity was taken of discussing the matter with
Mr. C. C. Davey, the Government Agent.
2 . Mr. Davey states that although he was informed by the London Offices of
the Perim Coal Company that the Italian surveying ship “ Ammiralglio Mag-
naghi ” would visit Perim for coal during December, 1933, she has not yet been
in the port.
3. On 13th January, the Italian sloop “ Ostia ” arrived and embarked oil
fuel.
Mr. Davey called, and was requested by the Commanding Officer to allow
officers to land at the High Light for the purpose of taking a round of angles of
peaks on the Arabian coast, including, presumably, the vicinity of Sheikh Syed.
This permission was granted. \\ - *
Subsequently Mr. Davey was informed by the Island Police that the officers,
after making their observations at the High Light, descended to the Old Light on
Obstruction Point and there made sketches.
4 . It is understood that these sketches were also of the Arabian coastline,
but time did not admit of this being confirmed. If. M. S. Penzance will therefore
call at Perim on her return passage from Djibouti, when the police officers con
cerned will be interviewed.
5. Mr. Davey was informed that “ Ostia ” will call for fuel at monthly inter
vals until May, when she is expected to return to Italy.
He also gathered that “ Ammiraglio Magnaghi ” is engaged in survey work
in the vicinity of Assab.
6 . In the event of further requests to land for hydrographical purposes being
made on any future occasion, Mr. Davey proposed that permission should again
be granted, a careful watch being kept on the movements of the observers, and
a report forwarded.
7. These proposals were discussed with and concurred in by the Chief Com
missioner, Aden, in view of the following facts—
(a) Details of Perim island and the neighbouring Arabian coast are
already shown in considerable detail on Admiralty chart No. 2592,
“ Perim island and Bab-el-Mandeb Small Strait ”.
(b) Nothing of a secret nature exists in Perim.
(c) It is impossible to detect or prevent any sketching or photography
that a foreign man-of-war may undertake while on passage through
the Small Strait or elsewhere in the vicinity of the Island.
(d) The difficulties which would attend the refusal of permission after
having granted it on a previous occasion.
8 . In a general consideration of this incident, it will be recollected that the
vicinity of Sheikh Seyd has always received the particular and sensitive atten
tion of His Majesty’s Government, owing to its dominant position with regard
to Perim and the Straits.
In the Anglo-Turkish Boundary Agreement of 1904-5, this area was known
as “ the yellow patch ” on the map, a special clause providing that on no account
would Turkey alienate her tenure of it in favour of any other Power.
9 . From intercepted W|T messages en clair it now appears certain that both
“Ammiraglio Magnaghi ’’ and “ Ostia ’’ are engaged in some work (presum-
ablv survey) in the Assabthio area, and that a shore observation party, equipped
with a portable WjT set has been landed. The sloop “ Asio ’’ also appears to be
taking part in the operations.