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Coll 6/4(2) 'Asir: Relations between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen.' [‎57r] (120/796)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (394 folios). It was created in 9 Aug 1933-19 Apr 1934. It was written in English. 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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[31 n—3]
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
EASTERN (Arabia).
CONFIDENTIAL.
[E 988/79/25]
February 13, 1934.
"iQ 7
Section 3.
i
i
No. 1.
Sir A . Ryan to Sir John Simon— {Received February 13.)
Jedda, January 30, 1934.
’ WITH reference to my telegram No. 14 of to-day, I have the honour to
enclose a translation of the letter which TuacTBey Hamza addressed to me on
the 28th January regarding the situation between Saudi Arabia and tne Yemen.
2. I have not had any further light on the situation since ^ wrote my
despatch No 22 of the 27th January, except that the three motor barges mentioned
in paragrapITFof that despatch and earlier reports left this morning apparently
for Jizan. I am not telegraphing this for the moment, but may do so if I hear
that they carried any important number of troops. At present I am more
interested in the Amir Feisal, who again went from Mecca to Taif a few days ago
and who may possibly be preparing to go south. ^ tt- tvt • <- >
3. I am sending copies of this despatch and enclosure to His Majesty s
Ambassador at Rome and to the Commissioner at Aden
I have, &e.
ANDREW RYAN.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Fuad Bey Hamza to Sir A. Ryan.
DeaTs^Andrew, Mecca, January ZS, 1934.
I AM writing to you just before I leave Mecca for Abha in order to
acknowledge your private letter of the 23rd January, 1934 about the development
of the situation between this country and the Yemen. We had a conversation
on this question on Wednesday last, which I believe has shown you the truth ot
the matter and has made clear that the measures taken were by way of
preparation for eventualities, once it had been proved to us that the actions of
Imam Yahya were at variance with his statements. I have communicated a copy
of your letter, referred to above, to the proper person, and have also indicated the
explanations I made to you. It was then found most appropriate that 1 snou d
s umm arise the recent situation for you as follows .
Our attitude as regards our desire for peace and friendship with the
Imam Yahya remains unchanged. Our proof of this is the manner m which we
have strongly urged the Imam Yahya to have the difficulty brought to an end while
all our forces are concentrated on the frontiers and entirely ready, but have taken
no action, thank God, which might provoke a quarrel between us and Yahya, and
in spite of our having ascertained that while he was corresponding and
compacting with us for peace and friendship he was, on the other hand, doing Di e
opposite by provoking insurrection in the Tihama area; for he sent Abdul-al-
Wahhab-al-Idrisi, who is under his protection and for whose action he is
responsible, gave him money and arms and thus stirred up the inhabitants of the
highlands of the Tihama such as the Ahl Eaifa, the Beni Malek and the Aba i
until they expelled those of our Amirs who were with them. He also took pledge
from the people of those mountains. The Imam’s intention m deferring a settle^
ment is to cause insurrection and strife so that, if he finds an opportunity he will
break the peace and do whatever he likes. His Majesty the King has frankly
acquainted^Yahya with the facts and strengthened the forces with extra ones m

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Content

This volume mostly contains copies of Foreign Office correspondence (forwarded by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Under-Secretary of State for India) relating to the strained relations between Ibn Sa'ud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] and the Imam of Yemen [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn] and their respective claims to Najran. The volume concludes with reports on the outbreak of war between the two states and the war's early stages.

The correspondence discusses the following:

  • An offer, made to Ibn Sa'ud by King Faisal [Fayṣal bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] of Iraq, to act as a mediator between Ibn Sa'ud and the Imam of Yemen.
  • The Italian Government's refusal to recognise Ibn Sa'ud's annexation of Asir.
  • An alleged oral agreement regarding the frontiers between Saudi Arabia (then the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd) and Yemen, which is believed to have been concluded between Ibn Sa'ud and the Imam of Yemen in 1927.
  • Reports of the occupation of Badr, Najran, by Yemeni troops.
  • Reports of Saudi troops having crossed the Asir-Yemeni frontier.
  • Anglo-Italian correspondence regarding the status of Asir.
  • Reports of Ibn Sa'ud having issued an ultimatum to the Imam of Yemen.
  • Treaty negotiations between Britain and Yemen.
  • Reports of Saudi-Yemeni negotiations.
  • Italian requests for 'projected discussions' with the British in Rome, regarding matters in Arabia.
  • Details of the outbreak of war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

The volume features the following principal correspondents: the Foreign Office; His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires, Jedda (Albert Spencer Calvert); the British Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan); His Majesty's Ambassador to Italy (Ronald William Graham, succeeded by James Eric Drummond); the Secretary of State for the Colonies [Philip Cunliffe-Lister]; the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Saudi Arabia [Fayṣal bin ‘Abd al-‘Azīz Āl Sa‘ūd]; King Faisal of Iraq [Fayṣal bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī]; Ibn Sa'ud; the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Also included are extracts from Aden and Kuwait Political Intelligence summaries, and copies of letters from the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Kuwait (Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Richard Patrick Dickson) to 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. [Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven William Fowle], regarding public opinion in Kuwait on the Saudi-Yemeni dispute.

The volume includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (394 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last flyleaf with 394; 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 present between ff 327-392 and is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 6/4(2) 'Asir: Relations between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen.' [‎57r] (120/796), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2065, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061745075.0x000079> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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