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File 53/1915 Pt 6 'The War: Arab Kingdom; Italian claims' [‎41r] (86/360)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (176 folios). It was created in 1916-1917. 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. .

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No. C. 343, dated 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. , the 1st May 1915 (Secret)*
From— Major-General D. G. L. Shaw, 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—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment.
In sending yon by this mail three copies of the Treaty signed by me and
the Idrisi Saiyid for the ratification of the Government of India, I have the
honour to state that the Idrisi representatives will leave to-morrow for their
country. They appear to mean business.
2. There is little left to be said. Paragraph 5 is the most important one,
and is in accord with the cipher instructions received from you.
3. Paragraph 7. The precise details of assistance in funds and munition
is expressly omitted at the request of Saiyid Mustafa and is done to avoid
wounding Arab susceptibilities. A receipt in full for assistance given has
however been obtained. The concluding portion of this paragraph is very
essential. Having begun a good work with so important a Chief, and one so
inimical to everything Turkish, it will be necessary to prosecute the matter a
entrance, but I was careful to insert the last nine words of the paragraph as
showing the quid pro quo for which the Idrisi is responsible.
4. I would request that two ratified copies of the Treaty may be returned
to me, one to be given to the Idrisi and the other for this office records.
This Treaty of Friendship and Goodwill is signed by Major-General J). G.
L. Shaw, 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, on behalf of the British Government and
by Saiyid Mustafa bin Saiyid AbduT ’Ali on the part of His Eminence Saiyid
Muhammad bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Ahmed bin Idris the Idrisi Saiyid
and Amir of Sabia and its environments.
2. Its main objects are to war against the Turks and to consolidate a
pact of friendship between the British Government and the Idrisi Sajyid,
abovementioned, and his Tribesmen.
3. The Idrisi Saiyid agrees to attack and to endeavour to drive the Turks
from' their -stations in the Yemen and to the best of his power to harass the
Turkish troops in the direction of the Yemen and to extend his territories at
the expense of the Turks.
4. The Saiyid’s prime objective will be against the Turks only, and he
will abstain from any hostile or provocative action against Imam Yahya so
long as the latter does not join hands with the Turks.
5. The British Government undertakes to safeguard the Idrisi Saiyid’s
territories from all attack on the seaboard from any enemy who may molest
him ; to guarantee his independence in his own domain and at the conclusion
of the war to use every diplomatic means in its power to adjudicate between
the rival claims of the Idrisi Saiyid and the Imam Yahya or any other rival.
6. The British Government has no desire to enlarge its borders on
Arabian soil but wishes solely to see the various Arab rulers li^^S peacefully
and amicably together each in his own sphere, and all in friendship with the
British Government.
7. As a mark of its appreciation of the work to. be performed by the
Idrisi Saiyid, the British Government has aided him with both funds and
munitions and will continue to assist him in the prosecution of the war so long
as it lasts in accordance with the measure of the IdnsTs activities.
8. Finally, while maintaining a strict blockade on all Turkish ports in
the Bed Sea, the British Government has for some months past been giving
the Idrisi Saiyid full and free scope to trade and traffic between his ports and
Aden, and this concession the British Government, in token of the friendship
existing, will continue uninterruptedly to maintain.

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Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes, relating to Italian claims and policy in the Arabian Peninsula in the context of British policy in the Arabian Peninsula particularly in relation to the Hejaz, Asir and the Yemen.

The discussion in the volume relates to the visit of Italian officials, soldiers and naval ships to Jeddah, Hejaz. Further discussion surrounds debate over the Italian relationship with the Idrīsī Imām of ʻAsīr and whether the Imām was engaged in intrigues with the Italians. Also discussed is the Italian proposal to recruit Arabs from ʻAsīr into the Italian colonial forces for duty in Italian Somaliland.

Documents in the volume include:

  • 'Agreement with the Idrisi Saiyid regarding the Farasan Islands and Other Matters' (ff 10-13).
  • 'British Interests in Arabia' (ff 88-89).

The principal correspondents in the volume include the Under Secretary of State for India; the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; 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; the Secretary of State for India (Austen Chamberlain); and the Grand Sharif of Mecca (Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī).

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, subject headings, and a list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (176 folios)
Arrangement

The subject 55 (German War) consists of 5 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/524-527. The volumes are divided into 5 parts with parts 1 and 2 comprising one volume each, parts 3 and 4 comprising the third volume and parts 5 and 6 comprising one volume each.

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 178; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 53/1915 Pt 6 'The War: Arab Kingdom; Italian claims' [‎41r] (86/360), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/527, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100055638931.0x000057> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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