File 3939/1926 Pt 3 'Publications: Revision of Aitchison's Treaties: Aden and Arabia Sections.' [‎62r] (117/410)

ADEN— Idrisi.
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the complete independence of all Asir. If he was not at first as suc
cessful as he promised to be, he effectually divided the Turks in Hedjaz
from those in Yemen, and was sovereign in Asir.
In 1915 a Treaty of friendship (No. LXXVIII) was concluded with
Saiyid Mohammed bin Ali. Its main object was to war against the
Turks. It was ratified in November 1915.
In January 1917, after the capture of Farsan islands by the Idrisi
from the Turks, a supplementary agreement (No. LXXIX) was con
cluded with him recognising the Islands as forming part of the Idrisi’s
domains and promising protection against Foreign Powers.
In 1919, after the evacuation of Asir and Tihama by the Turks, the
Idrisi’s influence extended as far as Birk in the north and Zeidia in the
south.
In August 1919, a British mission to the Imam of Sanaa under
Lieutenant Colonel H. F. Jacob, was detained at Bajil by the Qohra tribe
who were led to believe that the chief object of the mission was to make
them over to the Imam. After prolonged negotiations with the Qohra
tribe for their release and with the help of the Idrisi, the mission was
allowed to return to Aden in December 1919.
Shortly after this an Imamic force attacked the Qohra who appealed
to the Idrisi for help. The latter espoused their cause and for over three
years successfully resisted the advance of the Imamic troops on the
Qohra frontier.
In January 1921/Hodeidah, which was occupied by British troops
on the declaration of the Armistice/ was evacuated and was occupied by
the Idrisi.
In 1923/ Saiyid Mohammed bin Ali died. The Idrisi tribes elected his
eldest son, Ali, aged about 16 years, to succeed him under the tutelage
of his paternal uncle Sayed Hassan el Idrisi. The youth soon got oat
of the control of his uncle and his cousin, Sayed Mustafa (who was the
ruling spirit in the Idrisi country and who had been the chief adviser
of Saiyid Mohammed bin Ali in establishing relations with the British
Government) and appointed men of no importance as his councillors.
* Attempts made by Sayed Hassan’s party to depose the voung Idiisl
proved unsuccessful, with the result that fighting broke out between the
supporters of Sayed Ali and Sayed Hasan, resulting in the defeat
of he latter. In the circumstances Sayed Mustafa was compelled to
leav ethe country, and returned to Egypt.
Subsequently, Sayed Ali deported all the councillors of his father
and so weakened himself by this and other ill-advised acts, that the
Imam of Sanaa was able to occupy unopposed all the maritime plain