File 7251/1920 Pt 3 'Arabia: Situation and Policy; Agenda for Inter Departmental Committee Meetings' [‎220v] (77/268)

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In practice, however, any improvement of our position at Aden would affect not
the Sherif and the Idrisi, but the Imam. And though the former may find it necessary
in public to avoid signing away Moslem soil to the unbeliever, or Arab soil to th e
foreigner, they would neither of them be sorry to see their rival, the Imam, weakened
by an extension oi British power at his expense. In fact, the Idrisi s Minister has, m
private, quite frankly adopted this point of view. (152356/15.) The real struggle ovq')
the Aden boundary will come in our negotiations with the Imam, and in this case lack
of precision might be fatal. Apart from the Imam, we have to consider France, with
her claims to Sheikh Said ; but we have safeguarded ourselves here by the reservation
attached to the self-denying proviso in article 10 of the Anglo-French Agreement of
the 16th May, 1916. The two Powders agree “neither to acquire themselves, nor to
consent to a third Power acquiring territorial possessions in the Arabian Peninsula.
This, however, shall not prevent such readjustment of the Aden frontier as may
be necessary in consequence of recent Turkish aggression.”
We are safeguarded against Italy also by her inclusion in the provisions of the
above article, under article 7 of the Italian Agreement of the 18th August. 1917.
As regards our desiderata at Aden, therefore, the present treaty with the Idrisi
may be regarded as reasonably satisfactory.
APPENDIX.
Text of Treaty of April 30, 1915.
This Treaty of Friendship and Goodwill is signed by Major-General D. G. L. Shaw, the Political
Resident, Aden, on behalf of the British Government and by Saiyid Mustafa-bin-Saiyid Abdu’l 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 Saiyid, above mentioned, 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 sea-board 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 in Western Arabia, but wishes
solely to see the various Arab rulers living 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 Idrisi’s activities.
8. Finally, while maintaining a strict blockade on all Turkish ports in the Red 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.
9. This treaty will be held to be valid after its ratification by the Government of India.
Signed this day, Friday, the 30th April, 1915 A.D., corresponding with the 15th of Jamad Shani
1333 Hijra.
D. G. L. SHAW, Major-General,
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.
H. F. JACOB, Lieutenant-Colonel,
First Assistant Resident.
C. R. BRADSHAW, Major-General,
Staff 0fleer, Aden Brigade.
This treaty was ratified by the Viceroy
6th day of November a.d. 1915.
Signed in vernacular, mi behalf of the Idrisi
Saiyid :
SAIYID MUSTAFA-BIN-SAIYID ABDU’L
ALL
Signed in vernacular:
SHEIKH MUHAMMAD-BIN-AWAD BA
SALN.
HARDING E OF PENSHURST,
Viceroy and Governor-General of India-
and Governor-General of India in Council at Delhi on the
A. H. GRANT,
Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign and Political Department.