Coll 6/61 'The Yemen: Relations between H.M.G. and the Imam.' [‎56v] (114/507)

in Aden solely for use with San‘a. So I sent off Mr. Salih Ja'far to Qadhi Raghib to
make clear to the latter that it was probable that a W/T station would be erected in
any case by Cable and Wireless Ltd. and that it would be available for communication
with San'a. However, the same reply was given which was subsequently confirmed by
the King.
13. With regard to 2, in accordance with the instructions contained in Colonial Office
secret despatch dated 20th November, 1933, I made it clear to Qadhi Raghib that the
King was at liberty to purchase munitions through His Majesty's Government or British
firms should he so desire. The Qadhi expressed thanks on behalf of the King.
14. With regard to 3, I told the Qadhi that, acting on his own suggestion to
Sir Bernard Reilly, His Majesty's Government had now appointed a special Frontier
Officer and that the officer had actually arrived in Aden the previous Saturday. I added
that I hoped that the King would appoint one also. The Qadhi replied that the King
certainly intended to do so and was looking out for a good man, but that in the meantime
he w'ould appoint someone temporary. At the Mission's farewell audience with the King,
His Majesty announced that he had appointed the present ‘Amil of Rada’, Seiyid
Muhammad ash Shami, who, he said, was a man to be trusted, straightforward and
unbiassed. Both Qadhi Raghib and Seiyid ‘Ali ibin al Wazir Minister. , Governor of Ta'iz, also
spoke highly of him. I understand that his appointment is a permanent one and that
someone else will succeed him as ‘Amil.
15. I mentioned 4 rather tentatively to the Qadhi, but Mr. Salih Ja'far had already
told me that the latter did not approve of the increased export tax and had agreed that
its imposition would affect adversely not only foreign trade but Yemen trade also. He
told Mr. Salih JaTar that he thought the King had been ill-advised in this matter.
I introduced the subject by telling Qadhi Raghib that certain European business men,
having heard that I was going up to San'a, had asked me to do what I could in the
way of getting the tax reverted to its normal rate, which was not strictly true, but
T had spoken to M. Ries at Aden and Mr. Day at Hodeida on the subject, so as to get
some idea from them as to how far it affected their trade. It was obvious, too, that
such an imposition was not going to benefit Yemeni merchants as I pointed out to the
Qadhi. The result was that the King sent a telegraphic order to Hodeida that evening
cancelling the increased tax and I received a note from Qadhi Raghib the next morning
saying that this had been done.
16. Our conversations that morning had been interrupted by the ‘Amil of San'a,
Seyid Husein ‘Abdulqadir, and the Commander-in-Chief, Seiyid ‘Ali bin Ibrahim, calling
on me without previous warning. The former I had met at Hodeida in January, 1926,
while with the Clayton Mission.
I returned their calls on the Friday morning, 7th September, taking with me
Mr. Salih Ja'far. I found both of them delightful personalities, well-read and
conversant with recent world events and world politics.
17. On Thursday morning, 6th September, I called first on Qadhi ‘Abdullah al
‘Amn, the Prime Minister, and then on Qadhi Raghib, and, during the visit, I handed
each of them the gold watch which had been presented to them by His Majesty
King George V. They were both very pleased with the gift and expressed their thanks.
I was accompanied by the two other officers and Mr. Salih Ja'far.
18. On Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. the Mission proceeded by car to Ar Rodha,
accompanied by Qadhi Raghib, to have a farewell audience with the King. The visit
was informal.
On the King entering the audience chamber, and immediately after the usual
compliments, the King described his ailments to Wing-Commander Knowles in some
detail and askea for his aavic^^^^i^EgyptianDoctorTMjr Hafiz Amin, had previously
called on Wing-Commander Knowles and was known to be in attendance on the King
and his family. Wing-Commander Knowles was therefore placed in rather an awkward
position but evaded the difficulty by promising to hold a consultation with Dr. Hafiz
which he subsequently did.
19. The King mentioned certain villages in the re-occupied ‘Audhali territory about
the possession of which there was some doubt, the ‘Amil of Beidha claiming them as
belonging formerly to the Beidha Sultanate and the ‘Audhali Sultan claiming them as
his. They were finally left in ‘Audhali territory, but Sir Bernard Reilly had promised
an investigation on his return to Aden which was duly carried out by himself. The
King asked me the result of my investigations, and, while admitting that I had not