'File 11/2 Diaries and Report: Arabia Series' [‎60v] (120/222)

copy of a telegram from the Resident at Aden, dated the 9 th March 1934, regard
ing a complaint which has been made by the Imam of the Yemen that two aero
planes have flown over his territory.
Nothing is known in this Department of any recent flights over the southern
part of Arabia other than that referred to in the accompanying copy of an
extract from the “ Times ” of the 10 th of March, and I am to enquire whether
l¥e~ilr n clincn n IrT™ iu P ossession of an 7 information which might throw
light on the matter,
A similar letter is being addressed to the ^^‘"' 0 ^ and a copy is being
sent to the India Oftice,
Enclosure 1 to Serial No. ( 34 ).
Telegram from ihe Resident at Aden, to the Secretary of State for the
Colonies, No. T.|17, dated the 9th March 1934.
I have received an urgent telegram from the Imam stating that two foreijm
aeroplanes came from direction of Southern Frontier of Yemen and passed over
Sanaa flying on a northerly course on 7th March. The flight has obviously
caused great perturbation in Sanaa where population are unaccustomed to
aeroplanes and still associate them with threat of air action. The Imam
declares in his telegram that lie regards it as impossible that flight has been
made with the knowledge or under the authority of the British Government but
he makes a strong protest and asks for enquiry evidently under the imriressiou
lliat machines must he British. I have replied categorically denying that thev
came from Aden or the Protectorate and have assured him that such flio-hfs over
Jus country cannot lie undertaken without his consent. I have suggested that
machines may have been from some other foreign country and have asked him
tor further particulars. I have stated that I am reporting to you by telegram
and shall ne glad to know whether you can give information of any civilian or
foreign service flights over the Yemen.
Pending your reply and instructions I am making no enquiries from
foreign representatives at Aden which might be misunderstood.
Enclosure 2 to Serial No. ( 34 ).
Extract from the “ Tim.es ”, dated 10th March 1934.
QUEEN OF SHEBA’S CAPITAL.
DISCOVERY CLAIMED BY EXPLORER.
From our own Correspondent.
Paris, March 9.
The French explorer and novelist M. Andre Malraux, who was awarded
he I rix < onennn last year for his novel “ La Condition Humaxne,” seA the
I/Intransigeant *•— * *** Jltati to the evening ’newspaper
“ Wo t'^'e discovered the legendary city of Saha (Sheha) on the northern
boundary of the Kub’al Khali (the Great. Sandy Desert of
Southern Arabia). Twenty temple towers are still standing We
have taken photographs for L’Intransigeant.”
M. Malraux set ont secretly from Paris on February 22 by air accomnnoied
by Captain Connglion-Molinier as pilot. Their object was to find the' vnhm
of the eity from which Balkis, Queen of Sheha, travelled to Palestine to see
King Solomon. The search involved a flight of about 1,000 miles over the
desert, during which a forced landing would probably have been fatal.
Tradition varies as to the site of the Biblical Sheha. According to one
theory it was m Southern Arabia ; according to another in Ethiopia.