'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎157r] (313/434)

4. As His Highness the Sultan of Lahej has informed me that it is the
general opinion in the Protectorate that Mr. Philby and his party had the per
mission of His Majesty’s Government and this Pesidency, X am having a
paragraph published in the Aden Protectorate Gazette denying this.
I am forwarding a copy of this despatch to His Majesty’s Minister, Jedda.
Enclosure 13 to S. No. (1).
Letter from the Upper Aulaqi Stilt an, to the Political Secretary,
dated 9th October 1936.
We write this to inform you, oh friend, that a European with Sa’udi
soldiers arrived at Shabwa some time back. We thought that they were
mere travellers but they prolonged their stay at Shabwa. On 14th Rajab
(30th September 1936) they arrived at Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hammam with the intention
of entering Markha but they were not allowed to do so by the Nasiyi tribe
and therefore they returned to Shabwa which is situated on the trade route
through which our merchandise passes to Hadhramaut. We are afraid
that our subjects and caravans proceeding to Hadhramaut may be harmed.
We request Government kindly to inform us whether the Sa’adi Govern
ment have been given any authority over the Hadhrami interior. As far
as we ’ Aulaqi s are concerned, we do not wish them to enter our country at all
because we are already in treaty relations with the British Government and
do not wish to enter into any engagement with any other Foreign Govern
ments we are maintaining our friendly relations with the British Government.
We request the British Government to reply to us on this subject as soon as
possible.
Enclosure 14 to S. No. (1).
Letter from the Acting Resident, Aden, to the Secretary of State
for the Colonies, No. 538, dated 28th October 1936.
I have the honour to refer to Colonel Lake’s telegram No. 86, dated 23rd
October 1936, and to enclose, for your information, copies of letters dated
8th and 14th October 1936 from Seiyd Ahmed bin ’Alawi A1 Jifri and Seiyid
Nasir bin Muhshin respectively regarding the recent activities of Mr. Philby
in the Aden Protectorate.
2. Seiyid Ahmed bin ’Alawi A1 Jifri is a member of an important family
of Mansabs (Religious overseers) in the Upper ’Aulaqi country, where he is
an influence for law and order, and Seiyid Nasir is one of the Chiefs of Mar
kka.
3. Place references will be found in San’a map, North D. 38.
4. A notice has been inserted in the issue of the Protectorate Gazette
for October that no permission of any sort was accorded to Mr. Philby for
his journey into the Protectorate and that His Majesty’s Government lends
no countenance whatever to the statements he is reported to have made
there.
Enclosure 15 to S. No. (1).
Letter from Seiyid Ahmed bin Alawi Al Jifri, to the Second Political
Officer, Aden, dated 8th October 1936.
News reached us, oh friend, about the arrival of Mr. ’Abdullah Philby
with his companions at Shabwa on the 8th Rajab (24th September 1936)
and on the night of the 11th instant (27 September 1936), they were the guests
of the Hammam tribe. They wanted to go to Markha but they were not
allowed to do so by the Nasiyin tribe. One of the motor cars which arrived
went to the lower part of the Khalifi country to a place called As-Sod to hunt