مجموعة ٦/ ٦٥ "العلاقات بين المملكة العربية السعودية واليمن". [و‎‎٤‎٩] (٩١٧/٩٧)

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1st July.
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"HASTINGS” #
PORT SUDAN.
1st August v
1934.
Ho« 7&/£1/10 .
Sir,
+ * +
2* I received from Admiralty information that H.M.
Government did not wish to he tied to awaiting the Italian
withdrawal if the latter was unduly delayed, provided that I,
and Resident Aden, were satisfied as to the safety of British
subjects and property on t he YEMEN coast, and that the IMAM
h©d given the necessary undertaking to safeguard British
interests. I was accordingly to quietly drop my attitude of
insistence on this point. (Admiralty message 1635/30th June).
3. I was assisted to this end by the feet that as
reported in my 133Z/29th June, AZ3I had at last received
instructions to withdraw when satisfied, and also by the fact
that at a private interview which I had instructed SALEH
JEPi^ER, the British Agent, to arrange with ABDULLAH WAZIR,
the latter stated that he had had news from SANAA, and
indicated that the Italians had agreed to comply absolutely
with the IMAM'S views on the question of their flag and
withdrawal. This enabled SALEH JAFEER to enquire whether,
if the Italians had not withdrawn reasonably soon after
security was assured, he would prefer the British and French
to remain or leave. He was obviously delighted at being
consulted thus in advance, and replied that if I would
withdraw with the French when we were satisfied it would
strengthen his position even further as regards getting rid
of the Italians.
4. ABDULLAH WAZIR'S reputation of being a strong man
is borne out by the following incident. It was pointed out
to him that a certain company of regular troops (80) drawn
from the TIHAMA tribes, detailed to act as advance guard
in HODEIDA during SAUDI evacuation, had been guilty of looting
and other misbehaviour during the original YEMENI retreat.
It was suggested that they were singularly unsuitable for the
occasion. "Let them oome’' said WAZIR. On arrival, they
were fallen in and each man given one or two Therfesas , since,
it was explained, surely they must be short of money. On the
following day, they were ordered to fall in in the Customs
House yard. They did so wondering what further presentation
was to be made. The heavy door was closed behind the last
man, a small armed guard closed up, and they were called
out one by one, disarmed and sent home.
5. Meanwhile, the "turn-over” between AMIR PEI SAL and
ABDULLAH WAZIR was proceeding smoothly and without disturbance,
FEISAL'S departure being continually postponed. WASIR had
taken over the Customs.
End July. ABDUL WAHAB IDRISI left by car, under escort, for
GIZAN and MECCA. "PENZANCE” arrived and delivered mails, but
in the circumstances I considered it advisable for "HASTINGS”
to remain at HODEIUA, and ordered "PENZANCE" to return to
KAMA RAN on the following day, with mails for despatch. HENRY
The SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY. DU
(Copies to;- Commander-in-Okief, Mediterranean.
Commanding Officer, H.M.S. "PENZANCE").