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Coll 6/7(3) 'The Yemen: Relations between H.M.G. and the Imam.' [‎220r] (450/750)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (371 folios). It was created in 13 Sep 1933-22 Feb 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. .

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4
outbreak of an armed conflict between the Imam and
King Ibn Gaud? which now appears so imminent 9 has been
brought about by the policy of the Imam rather than that
^ of King Ibn Gaud. In these circumstances, the Foreign
Office regard it as inadvisable that His Majesty’s Government
should make any advances to the Imam which might be
interpreted as offering him encouragement 9 and they consider
that the mere fact that Lieutenant-Colonel Reilly was at
Sanaa for the purpose of negotiating a treaty settlement
while hostilities were actually proceeding would not
unnaturally prejudice the impartiality of His Majesty’s
Government in the eyes of Ibn Saud 9 and to that extent
weaken their influence in dealing with him in the present
crisis as well as over matters of more direct mutual con
cern.
5. The Foreign Office further contend that in the
interest of Anglo-Italian co-operation 9 it is undesirable
that we should bring pressure to bear on the Imam at the
present time, as the Italians would accuse us of taking
advantage of the ImairFs present difficulties.
6. The Foreign Office further contend that
hostilities might break out before the Resident reached
Sanaa, or while he was in the middle of negotiations,
which it would then be difficult to break off. They
consider that the present position affords an opportunity
to His Majesty’s Government of actually influencing the
Imam in favour of agreeing to negotiations with Ibn
Saud, and they suggest that the Resident should be
instructed to reply to the Imam in the following terms.
"His Majesty’s Government have duly considered the
Imam’s letter of the 20th June and are in principle
willing to resume negotiations and to/
-4-

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Content

This volume concerns relations between the British Government and Imam Yehia bin Muhammad Hamid Uddin [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn, Imam of Yemen]. Much of the correspondence discusses the progress of treaty negotiations between the British Government and the Imam (a treaty was eventually signed on 11 February 1934). The principal correspondents are the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Philip Cunliffe-Lister), 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. at Aden (Bernard Rawdon Reilly – also referred to as the Chief Commissioner at Aden – and, in Reilly's absence, the Acting 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. , Reginald Stuart Champion), the British Ambassador to Italy (Ronald William Graham, succeeded by Sir James Eric Drummond), His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires at Jedda (Albert Spencer Calvert), the Imam of Yemen, and various officials of the 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. , the Colonial Office, and the Foreign Office.

Matters discussed in the correspondence include:

  • Whether the Government of India should be included as a signatory of the proposed treaty.
  • Reports of Yemeni incursions (referred to as 'tax raids' – armed incursions made with a view to collecting taxes on behalf of the Imam) into the Subeihi district of the Aden Protectorate.
  • An ultimatum, issued by the British Government to the Imam, requesting the withdrawal of forces and the return of hostages, with a threat of aerial bombardment in the event of the Imam's non-compliance.
  • Concerns that any action taken by the British against the Imam might be interpreted both by Italy and by Saudi Arabia as encouraging Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] in his dispute with the Imam.
  • Details of the precise terms of the proposed treaty, and of 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. 's mission to San'a for the resumption of treaty negotiations with the Imam.
  • The British precondition that, prior to the treaty being signed, the Imam must remove all restrictions on overland trade between Yemen and the Aden Protectorate, as well as surrender the territories and subjects of those chiefs who are in treaty relations with the British.
  • Arrangements for the ratification of the treaty.
  • An enquiry from the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society, regarding whether the proposed treaty will include an article committing the Imam to taking action against slavery.

In addition to correspondence, the volume includes the following:

The French material in this volume consists of one telegram. All of the material in this volume covers the period 1933-1934, with the exception of the aforementioned map of the Aden Protectorate, which is dated 1930.

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.

Extent and format
1 volume (371 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 367; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at 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, nor does it include the four leading and ending flyleaves.

An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 49-367; these numbers are also written in pencil and are circled, but are crossed through.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Coll 6/7(3) 'The Yemen: Relations between H.M.G. and the Imam.' [‎220r] (450/750), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2070, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100060413800.0x000033> [accessed 19 April 2024]

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