File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎34v] (77/834)

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is no doubt that the Arabs and many of the Sarikat Islam leaders
believed in these and also in the speedy downfall of British
power.”
This propaganda, however, has failed of its purpose, and at
this moment the Hadramis, who have become interested in the
Arab Movement and particularly in the Sherifial Revolt, are
turning towards us, in the hope of obtaining better com
munications with Arabia, and greater freedom of intercourse
with their homeland. They have been sorely tried by our
necessary measures of control at Singapore and Aden, the two
inevitable stages on their route to and from Hadramaut.
What they ask is, according to Mr. Lee Warner, thus expressed.
“ You ought to make a consular post of Makalla with a
British officer. If that is impossible because you British think
the Sherif might be offended, surely you can appoint at Makalla
an Arab official from one of your known supporters in the
Straits.
“ Thus you could prove your active sympathy with us.
Give us also a post office, and a money order system direct.
Later, perhaps you might establish a telegraph and abolish all
these passes, photographs, consular certificates, questions as to
why we wish to go to our old home, why we wish to take so
much money to our old parents, etc., etc., etc.”
The petitioners pointed out that they, the Hadramis, are
still “the intellectual leaders of Islam in the East. If we helped
them now in the sense above indicated, they would easily obtain
the withdrawal of practically all the Arabs from Mongus and
the Germano-Turkish party ”.
Commenting upon the full Report, of which the above is
only a partial precis, Lt.-Col. H. F. Jacob writes :—
u What the Arabs in the East Indies require is ‘■help’ from
us to have free intercourse with Hadramaut. Many of these
people are directly subjects of our Sultan, Sir Ghalib of Shihr
and Makalla, but an equal number are Kathiris whom Sir Ghalib
claims as his subjects but cannot win over to his side except with
large sums of money. These Kathiris have long wished to
expand, and to gain their own port east of Makalla. This Sir
Ghahb would strenuously oppose, as he fears they will then set
up a kingdom of their own and work for direct communication
with the Aden Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. . I am bound to say that it is mainly
tins long-standing difference with the Sultan of Makalla and his
suppression of their ideals that has driven the Kathiri Sultans
and people to seek help elsewhere, and for this reason thev have
intrigued with the Imam of Sanaa before this war, and lately with
the urks. I never believed that this intrigue would affect us
closely m Aden, but it naturally upsets the autocratic rule of
our Dultan on Ghahb, and so he makes the most of it.
It may be said that we are bound to uphold Sir (jhalib’s
authority ; out, as a matter of fact, his authority inland is far
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