ملف ١٩١٥/٣٠٨٦، الجزء ٤ "الجزيرة العربية:"البحر الأحمر - احتلال جزر البحر الاحمر" [و‎‎٢‎٣‎٣] (٣٧٩/٣٢)

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Telegram P., dated the 12th (receivecjit 13th) April 1^16.
From—The High Commissioner of Egypt, Cairo,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy, Simla.
(Addressed Foreign Office as No. 257.)
I have sent revised translation of Sheriff’s letter by hag April 6th. . In
a few and unimportant particulars it Modifies purport of letter as summarised
An telegram,* No. 202. It would appear
* Serial No. 6. / from date of letter that Sheriffs contem
plated rising is meant to take place about beginning or end of May.
Present position is that we.Iiave sent £50,000 to the Sheriff and that he
/ askedf for £3,000 to his son Abdulla
t Enclosure No. 2, Semi No. 5. / a ] s0# Supplies and ammunition and arms,
* Ibid - / which he requested^ in his former letter,
will he handed over when he sends for them. We can, therefore, now consider
further ( ? ? Br ) use that Sheriff makes of our present grants and
await developments, f
He suggests demonstrations on Syrian§ Coast, but these must depend on
J French acquiescence and on our general
§ lv 'f plan of operations. It involves sorne risk
of reprisal on sWian population by Turks, some of whom are inclined to
welcome a pretext for massacre apparently.
In my ne/t letter to Sheriff, I proposed (saying) that in Syria he must
confine himsolf for the present to such operations as he can carry out with the
material as/stance given him and his own resources. Suggested.blockade or
Hediaz Coast is only question of immediate decision. Aden Political author
ities and /Navy, I understand, approve of blockade of whole of Red Sea
Arab Co/st excepting ports open to Idrisi. So does Soudan. I also support
proposa/ as a temporary measure on the grounds urged by Sheriff. Due
notice should be given to merchants concerned.
ftday appears undesirable as messenger informs me that Sheriff lays
great stress on blockade as necessary adjunct to his operations, time for which
is drawing near.
This is with reference to my telegram,jj
II Seiial No. 6. 202.
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No C. 831, dated Aden Residency, the 7th April 1916.
From-BBidADiER-GENEEiL Wiluam C. Waltoh, Political Resident, Aden;
To—The Secretary to the Government of Bombay, Political Department.
1 have the honour to submit, for the information of Government some
notes onTeonLenee recently held at Aden under the presidency of Admiral
Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, K.C.B., C.M.G., M.V. •
2 The result in short is that the Southern Red Sea ports are now all
closedi as requested by the Sheritf of Mecca, with.the following exceptions
(1) Traffic betweeu Idrisi ports.
(2) Steamer trading between Aden and Djezan.
fSl French and Italian traffic with Djezan.
k Saiyid Muhammad Haidar al Bahr’s dhow from Medi to A1 Taif.
(5) The dhow “Dbankaliya” from Kamaran to Idrisi Coast.
(6) Dhows from Jeddah to Idrisi posts. • + t jj u
The latter may be stopped if supplies are stopped from going to Jeddah
from India A decision on this point is now awaited.
„ o : tlle understanding that this policy is in agreement with the views
3. On the un Cairo, and as it m no way changes the declared
of the H!gh. Coni “ u j x ;. eC0 umieud that this policy be adhered to for the
policy now being pursued, i ieo
present.
ResEivcd on ^ JU;'i9iuwnn ]
IHD1A FOREIGN SECRETARY’S
j Letter. No. ®
r* - ► rl r n ft \ / ^ O I '