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deported at the same time. Nevertheless, it was believed that what prompted
this action was the Yemeni attempt on the King’s life in 1935. A large band
of Yemeni pilgrims travelling to Mecca by land was delayed at the frontier for
some time. First, it seems, permission for them to travel by the land route at
all was refused by the Saudi authorities, and when it was at last granted, there
was trouble about the dues to be paid. But the dispute was settled eventually.
At the end of the year Saiyid Muhammad Zabara arrived at Riyadh on what was
described by the Mecca press as a private mission from the King of the Yemen,
and it was believed that his object was to try to induce Ibn Saud to make large
reductions in the charges on Yemeni pilgrims, particularly those who travel by
land.
33. Ibn Saud watches the situation in the Yemen very carefully, and towards
the end of the year there were signs that it was giving him particular anxiety.
The disturbances which might follow the death of the King of the ^emen, owing,
for instance, to the well-known hostility between the heir apparent and some of
his numerous brothers, must enter into all Ibn Saud’s calculations, and towards
the end of the year it was clear that he was watching the Yemen frontier with
particular interest. He could probably deal with any repercussion that internal
disturbances in the Yemen might have upon Saudi Arabia, but what if Italy
should use the disturbances as a pretext for intervention? He expressed his
anxiety on this point to His Majesty’s Government in December through his
Minister in London.
34. The King of the Yemen complained to the Saudi Government that
Mr. Pliilby, accompanied by an armed Saudi guard, had entered Yemen territory
at Jauf and Marib. The Saudi Government disclaimed responsibility, as they
did when the Legation complained of a similar adventure of Mr. Philby’s into
the Aden Protectorate. Fuad Bey, however, remarked to His Majesty’s Minister
that perhaps the Imam only thought the places visited by Mr. Philby formed part
of Jauf and Marib.
35. The King of the Yemen was one of the Arab rulers whose appeal to the
Arab Higher Committee helped to bring about the cessation of the disorders in
Palestine. He played a minor part, compared with Ibn Saud, but that this was
not due to lack of interest was shown by statements made by him to Captain
Seager, who visited him from Aden in October.
36. There is usually little to record under this head, but this year mention
must be made of a journey which Mr. Philby made into the Aden Protectorate
with a considerable Saudi escort. This visit, which he made without giving
notice, still less asking for permission, aroused some apprehension and anxiety
among certain inhabitants of the Protectorate and gave the Aden Government
(5) Aden Protectorate.
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