'Memorandum on supplementary British commitments to the Idrisi regarding the Farsan Islands' [‎116v] (4/6)

The text of the Agreement is printed as an appendix to the present memoran
dum. There was a further exchange of telegrams between 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. and the
Resident as to the significance, in the Arabic version, of the word rendered “ sup
port in Article 4 (45134/17), but the Resident was able to assure 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.
that it meant no more than “necessary maintenance while in exile.” Accordingly,
on the 28th February 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. submitted the text to the Foreign Office with
the following observations (45134/17):—
" It will be seen that, in order to obtain from the Idrisi the undertaking
regarding the Farsan Islands, to which His Majesty’s Government attached
great importance, Colonel Jacob found himself obliged to accept counter pro
posals of a somewhat far-reaching nature. It is true that the protection of
His Majesty’s Government is limited to the islands and seaboard; but it extends
not only to the Idrisi himself, but also to his family, kinsmen, heirs and suc
cessors, and it would seem that, while His Majesty’s Government are precluded
from interfering in his affairs, they are bound to use every endeavour to restore
him to his former condition if some purely internal disturbance should lead
to his ejection from Asir. On the other hand, Article IV. appears to secure the
control of the Arms Traffic and to give His Majesty’s Government an option
as regards economic concessions which may prove useful vis-a-vis of other
Powers ; and there seems to be nothing in the treaty that can reasonably be inter
preted as entitling the Idrisi to any greater measure of support against the King
of the Hejaz than he can already claim under Article V. of the Treaty of the
30th April, 1915.
" Mr. Chamberlain does not like the Agreement, as on paper, at any rate, it
places very' serious obligations on His Majesty’s Government without exacting
the condition that the Idrisi shall follow the advice that may be given him.
But as the agreement has been made, and certain desiderata have been secured
thereby, it may be politic to ratify it in due course and to trust to an opportunity
hereafter occurring which will enable our relations with him to be placed on a
more satisfactory footing.”
In their reply, dated the 5th March, the Foreign Office concurred in these
views, and, in a telegram of the 8th March, 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. informed the Viceroy
that ratification of the Agreement was approved (51827/17). On the 16th March
they further communicated to him the Foreign Office letter of the 5th March, and
laid down certain lines of future policy (68234/17):—
“ It seems to be certain that at the conclusion of the war His Majesty's
Government will be called upon, under Article V. of the Treaty of the 30th
April, 1915, to arbitrate between the Idrisi Saiyid and the Imam Yahya, and
in any case our relations with these two chiefs will need to be carefully defined,
with reference both to British interests and to the interests of the Arab State.’
It is, therefore, probable that an opportunity' will be afforded of revising and
consolidating the two agreements with the Idrisi, and in that event I request
that the criticisms contained in 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. letter of the 28th February may
be borne in mind. I would also remark that though the Idrisi orally ‘ scouted
the idea of dealing with any Power save Great Britain,’ and professed to look
to His Majesty’s Government for every form of assistance, the wording of
Article IV. of the supplementary agreement does not prevent him from obtain
ing arms and ammunition from any source he pleases.
“ 1 request that Your Excellency will submit to His Majesty’s Government
any draft which, when the time comes, you may propose to put before the.
Idrisi.”
. 1 Me; T''; r ile ’, the 9‘f e, ; nrnent of India had acted on 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. telegram
vr u an ' ^ iaf instructed the Resident at Aden as follows on the 10th
March (81886/17):—
“ Agreement concluded on the 22nd January, 1017, with Idrisi is approved
by Governor-General in Council. Idrisi may be so informed. Ordinary ratifica
tion could not well be made on single Arabic version. There appears; however,
to te no need for this formality. When the time comes please bear in mind con
cluding portion of Secretary- of State’s telegram ”