Papers on British policy and the Arab movement [‎163r] (329/380)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majeatyb Goventment.]
SECRET.
Political Intelligence Department,
Foreign Office.
Special No. 4.
MEMORANDUM ON BRITISH COMMITMENTS TO THE IDRISI.
THE Idrisi had for many years before the war been de facto the independent
ruler of a tract of the Arabian Peninsula on the borders of Asir and Yemen. From this
tract he had eftectively excluded the Turks, with whom he was in a chronic state of war,
and during the Turco-Italian war of 1911-12 the Italians entered into relations with
him, and supplied him with arms.
On the other hand, his independence had never been recognised by foreign Powers;
and in the division of the Arabian Peninsula into a Turkish and a British sphere, effected
by the Anglo-Turkish Conventions of the 29th July, 1913, and 9th March, 1914,* the
Idrisi’s country was implicitly recognised by His Majesty’s Government as being under
the sovereignty of Turkey.
The fact, however, that the Idrisi possessed a coastline and two ports—Meidi and
Jezan—over which the Turks had no control, brought him into direct relations with
foreign governments on commercial matters, and he was thus in touch with His
Majesty’s Resident at Aden.f
In August 1913 he sent his Minister to Aden to discover His Majesty’s Govern
ment’s attitude towards him (in view, no doubt, of the Anglo-Turkish Convention
concluded shortly before). And he again had a confidential agent at Aden in September
1914.J At that time Turkey had not intervened in the war, but her attitude was
already threatening, and on the 11th September, 1914, the Resident at Aden accordingly
telegraphed to Bombay suggesting that overtures to the Idrisi should be made by His
Majesty’s Government on the following lines :—
“We could make Idrisi an offer of protection and friendship and a distinct
adjudication of his claims against Imam ; we could also make over to him Farsan,
vvhich was his property once and which was taken by Porte; also we would leave
open his ports Meidi, Habl, and Djezan.”
The Idrisi, the Turks, and the Imam of Sanaa were engaged in a three-cornered
duel, and, in the event of war with Turkey, it was clearly His Majesty’s Government’s
interest to obtain the co-operation against the Turks of at least one, and if possible
both, of the two Arab rulers. The Turks, however, made a very high bid for the
Imam’s friendship, and it rapidly became clear that he would not take sides with us
against them. In these circumstances the establishment of relations with the Idrisi
became essential.
On the 30th October, 1914, the Resident telegraphed to the Government of India
reporting that the Idrisi’s agent had assured him that the Idrisi had not come to terms
with the Imam and would never do so with the Turks, and proposing that a verbal
message should be sent him through the agent.§
This proposal was transmitted by the Viceroy to 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. in a telegram of
the 1st November, 19141|
“ It seems desirable that negotiations with Idrisi’s agent should immediately
be commenced by Resident on lines proposed in his telegram of the Llth ultimo
with these modifications. He should offer our protection and friendship and good
offices to Idrisi, but not adjudication in settlement of differences with Imam, also
protection of his ports Djezan, Meidi, and Habl. Restoration to him of Farsan
in event of war might be hinted but not promised by Resident. In negotiating
with Idrisi Resident should be warned to do nothing likely finally to estrange
Imam, who appears to be wavering.”
* See Draft of Despatch, dated August li)14, to His Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople.
t Reference to trade between Aden and Idrisi ports in i24h3/15.
J 59460/14 and 38722/15 (reprint of correspondence communicated by Government of India).
§ 65723/14.
jj 66302/14 and 68203/14.
B