File 3300/1916 Pt 3 'Aden News-Letters: 1919-20' [‎333r] (21/633)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.
EASTERN (Arabia).
CONFIDENTIAL.
\
! ^ 15923/47/44]
No. i.
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Aden, to Earl Carzon,—(Received December 21.)
(No. 58.)
My Lord, Aden, December 8 , 1920.
I HAVE the honour to forward, for your Lordship’s information, a copy of the
30th Aden News Letter, dated the 8 th December, 1920.
I have, &c. ,
T. E. SCOTT, Major-General.
Enclosure in No. 1 .
Thirtieth Aden News Letter.
THE following is a summary of the news reported since the despatch of my last
letter, dated the 26th November. 1920 :—
Tihama. — It appears from reports received from Hodeida that the Imam has
concentrated a big force at Jebel Reima. The remnant of the old force is said to have
asked the ex-Vali, Mahmud Nadhim, to relieve them, as they are war-worn. The
Vali has forwarded their request to the Imam and asked them to remain at their posts
pending receipt of the Imam’s reply, but a party of 400 men is said to have deserted
with war spoils.
A report says that in compliance with the ex-Vali’s request, the Imam ordered
500 Zeidis to proceed to Menekha. The latter, however, refused to go and offered
armed resistance. There is said to be a reserve force of 2,000 men at Sana and Rada,
which will be shortly despatched to the Tihama.
In my letter of the 14th October last, I reported the death of the Aboos Sheikh
and the election of his nephew, Salim Bukheit, as his successor. The latter is now
reported to have been elected sheikh of the whole tribe in consequence of the death of
Sahel Ali, the other sheikh of the tribe. Until the death of this sheikh the tribe was
divided into two sections under the rival sheikhs, Suleiman Hassan Bukheit, who was
succeeded by his nephew, Salim Bukheit, and Sahel Ali.
The Sana agent of the Political Officer, Hodeida, states that Saiyid Abdulla-bin-
Ibrahim, referred to in previous letters, has been deputed by the Imam as inspector of
the Wakfs of Zabeed and Khoka, and superintendent of the Public Treasury of the
Qadhas of Zabeed, Hais and Jebel Ras.
The Imam is reported to have sent one big gun to Zabeed and another to Dhala.
The Zabeed agent of the Political Officer, Hodeida, reports that a notable of Udain,
Hamid-bin-Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , has tendered for the lease of the revenues of Zabeed, Hais and
Jebel Ras for a sum of 450,000 dollars annually. This bid is said to exceed the
actual revenues of the places mentioned by 300,000 dollars, and if it is accepted by
the Imam, the result will be heavy exactions from the people and consequent
discontent.
The same agent states that he has no fresh news about Italian activity at Khoka
beyond the fact that their agent named Shakoor is staying at Khoka. The Zabeed agent
says that Shakoor is trying to purchase houses for the Italians.
From a later report received from the Zabeed agent, it appears that Shakoor has
made an agreement with the Imam on behalf of the Italians, by which the Imam
promises to receive and protect all Italian goods imported into this country via
Khoka. The Italians in return promise to supply the Imam with telephone and
telegraph apparatus, shell and cartridge-making apparatus, waggons, firearms and
other war materials.
The _ agerTt'T^ports that the Italians have sent to Khoka animals, carpets and
cloth which they are trying to exchange for coffee and skins, and that the Italian
merchant referred to in my last letter is expected at Khoka by a special steamer. It is
said that the Imamic inspector at Zabeed will proceed to Khoka to meet him.
Signor Pardo, an Italian merchant at Hodeida, confirms the news of this expected
[5096 x — 2 ]