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Coll 6/58 'Asir: Relations between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen.' [397r] (800/908)
The record is made up of 1 volume (449 folios). It was created in Jun 1914-31 May 1934. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
tHIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Arabia).
P. Z. '
283L
April 5, 1934.
CONFIDENTIAL.
l 1934 ]
Section 1.
E 1803/2/25]
No. 1.
/
Sir John Simon to Sir E. Drummond (Rome)
(No. 318.) ''
sir ’t tt a tzt? v. ^ J . Foreign Office, April 5, 1934.
I HAY K had under consideration your Excellency’s despatch No. 241 of the
17th March, but I remain of the opinion that it would be inexpedient to" accede
to the proposal of the Italian Government, that a conference of British and
Italian experts should be held to discuss the situation in South-Western Arabia.
2. It is tine that the developments which have taken place there since my
despatch No_39_pf the 15th January was written make it appear less likely that
King Ibn Saud and the Imam of the Yemen will reach a solution of their
differences without lecourse to hostilities; but there appear to be no new joint
steps to promote a peaceful settlement of the dispute, which His Majesty’s
Government and the Italian Government could agree, as a result of such a
conference, to take. They can only continue, as in the past, to urge moderation
upon both Sovereigns, should further opportunity arise. Meanwhile, so long as
the Italian Government maintain their present attitude upon the questions of
King Ibn Saud’s rights over Asir and of the Imam’s alleged claims in respect of
that territory, no conference can lead to agreement upon these points. Moreover,
discussion of them, if hostilities do in fact break out, would be academic. It
might even lead to the disappearance of the existing measure of agreement in
regard to the attitude to be adopted by the two Governments in case of a Saudi-
Yemeni conflict, as recorded in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the conclusions of the Rome
conversations of 1927.
3. Since, however, the Italian Government continue to reiterate their thesis
that the question of the sovereignty of Asir remains open, and to imply, as is
done in the seventh and eighth paragraphs of Signor Suvich’s letter to you, a
translation of which was enclosed in your despatch, that in regarding Asir as
now rightfully a part of King Ibn Saud’s dominions, His Majesty’s Government
are acting at variance with the spirit of the Rome conversations of 1927 and the
declarations of the British representatives during those meetings, His Majesty’s
Government cannot, merely in order to avoid controversy, refrain any longer from
making the grounds of their attitude clear without a risk that the Italian
Government may doubt their good faith.
4. I request, therefore, that, in replying to Signor Suvich’s letter, you will,
using the material in paragraphs 3-7 of my despatch No , 39, explain to him the
reasons for the considered view of His Majesty’s Government that in inter
national law the sovereignty over the territory ruled by the Idrisi has
undoubtedly passed to King Ibn Saud (and that it therefore cannot be considered
an open question), and endeavour to clear up the misunderstanding regarding
the undertaking of His Majesty’s Government to refrain from addressing to the
Government of King Ibn Saud a formal communication of their recognition of
his sovereignty over Asir. It may be well to add in your reply that His Majesty’s
Government will naturally continue, in pursuance of the conclusions of the Rome
conversations of 1927, not only to refrain from intervention in the present conflict
between King Ibn Saud and the Imam, but also to avoid all appearance of taking
the part of either of the disputants, while seeking, should further opportunities
urise, to use their influence in favour of a peaceful settlement. Y r ou may also
assure Signor Suvich of my desire to continue to exchange information with the
Italian Government regarding the progress of the dispute. Y r ou should give him
po encouragement to hope that His Majesty’s Government will accept the
invitation to hold a conference of experts, so long at any rate as the Italian
Government maintain their view regarding the status of Asir; but you may
inform him that, should he desire further explanation in regard to any special
point concerning the policy of His Majesty’s Government in Arabian affairs, I
shall of course be happy to give it to him when he visits London at the end of the
nionth.
5. I am sending copies of your despatch No. 241 and of this reply to His
Majesty’s Minister at Jedda.
I am, &c.
JOHN SIMON.
[81 e—1]
About this item
- Content
This volume concerns relations between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Most of the correspondence is focussed on British policy in response to the Saudi-Yemeni conflict.
Related matters that feature in the correspondence include the following:
- Reports in March 1934 that peace negotiations between Saudi and Yemeni representatives have failed.
- The British response to reports of the evacuation of Hodeida by Yemeni forces, which include the dispatch of HMS Penzance and proposals to fly aircraft over the town.
- Discussion as to whether the British Government should invite Italian naval cooperation regarding Hodeida.
- The presence of HMS Penzance , and later HMS Enterprise , at Hodeida.
- The state of affairs in Hodeida (as reported by the Commander of HMS Enterprise ) following its occupation by Saudi forces.
- Saudi concerns that Italy might intervene in the conflict on the side of the Imam of Yemen.
- Discussion as to whether or not the Italian Government's decision to land troops at Hodeida and Mocha – ostensibly to protect Italian interests – constitutes an act of intervention.
- Differences of opinion between the British and Italian Governments over the sovereignty of Asir.
- Reports in May 1934 of the suspension of hostilities and the beginning of peace negotiations.
- Unfounded rumours of the death of Imam of Yemen [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn].
Notable correspondents include the following: His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan); His Majesty's Ambassador in Rome (James Eric Drummond); His Majesty's Ambassador in Bagdad [Baghdad] (Sir Francis Humphrys); the High Commissioner, Egypt (Miles Wedderburn Lampson); the 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 (Bernard Rawdon Reilly); the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Philip Cunliffe-Lister); the Commander of HMS Penzance ; the Commander of HMS Enterprise ; the Senior Officer of the Red Sea Sloops; the Command-in-Chief, Mediterranean; the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; officials of the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, the Admiralty, and the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department.
In addition to correspondence the volume includes copies of political intelligence summaries from the Aden Political 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. , the Bahrain Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , and the Kuwait Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. respectively, as well as a sketch map of the Arabian Peninsula.
The French material consists of two items of correspondence. The aforementioned sketch map is dated June 1914; the rest of the volume dates from 1934, with most of the material falling within April-May 1934 (a few items of correspondence date from February-March 1934).
The volume includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 3-4).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (449 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 449; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers.
An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 218-449; these numbers are also written in pencil and circled, but are crossed through.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Coll 6/58 'Asir: Relations between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen.' [397r] (800/908), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2125, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100054977107.0x000001> [accessed 24 April 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2125
- Title
- Coll 6/58 'Asir: Relations between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 1r:35v, 37r:58v, 62r:66v, 68r:113v, 116r:130v, 133r:167v, 172r:268v, 270r:320v, 322r:368v, 371r:384v, 386r:395v, 397r:397v, 399r:399v, 400ar, 400r:401r, 402r:420v, 422r:425v, 427r:443v, 446r:446v, 447ar:447av, 448r:449v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence