'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎131v] (262/434)

by moral force. He has little real interest in Abyssinia, and has seen in
the recent conflict not so much a war between Italy and an African Power
as a struggle between Italy and Great Britain. He sees in the result a
sweeping victory for Italian force in this struggle. Obsessed, as he has
been for years, with the fear of Italian ambitions in the Red Sea, he fears
that that force may in the future be turned against the Arabian Peninsula.
As a Moslem ruler still engaged in consolidating his position in Arabia
and jealous of his hardly-won independence, he has no genuine love for
Great Britain, a Power which block his way in various directions, e.g., in
the east and south of the peninsula, but he has much less to fear from British
policy on this side of it than he thinks he has to fear from that of latly.
5 . The only fortunate feature of this is that Ibn Saud probably believes
that it was not so much the ability as the will to save Abyssinia that was
wanting in the attitude of His Majesty’s Government as conceived by his
simple mind. He probably still believes that a breach with them would be
fatal to him, and hopes against hope that they would see him through in
the event of a breach between him and any other European Power. He dare
not go against Great Britain. He dare not offend Italy. “Neutrality”
is more than ever his slogan, because, as I have said, he has seen not a war
in Africa, but a conflict, not yet ended, between Great Britain and Italy.
He does not yet know what its effects in Arabia may be, and it is with
reference to this struggle that he clings to the slogan.
(52)
Enclosure in Colonial Office, covering letter dated 2nd July 1936.
Letter from the Colonial Office, to the Foreign Office, No. 78125/36,
DATED THE 2ND JULY 1936.
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Ormsby Gore to refer to your letter
No. E. 2702/56/25 of the 25th May [Enclo. to S. No. (39)], regarding Italian
relations with the Yemen, and to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr.
Secretary Eden, a copy of a despatch which has been addressed to the
Acting Resident at Aden on this subject, dated the 2nd July 1936.
2. As regards paragraph 3 of the despatch to the Acting Resident, I
am to explain that it had already been contemplated, quite independently,
that Captain Seager, the Frontier Officer, should pay one of his periodical
visits to Sanaa in the course of the next few months, and that Sir Bernard
Reilly, before he left Aden, had informed the King of the Yemen of the
projected visit. Captain Seager should have an excellent opportunity
during his visit of observing any signs of increasing Italian activities in
the Yemen.
3 . Copies of this letter with the enclosure thereto are being sent to
the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , Admiralty and Air Ministry.
Enclo to S. No. (52).
Letter from the Colonial Office, to the Resident at Aden, dated the
2nd July 1936.
I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty’s Government have
had under consideration the situation created by the Italian military succes
ses in Abyssinia and the possibly increasing danger of Italy embarking on
some new advanture in the Yemen.
2. Although the balance of probability still seems to be against Italy
attempting further acts of aggression in this area, the danger of her doing
so clearly cannot be altogether excluded, and it is therefore desirable to
ensure the rapid supply of any available informatoin which may have a