Page 103 - Arabian Studies (II)

The Powers and Mineral Concessions in the IdrTsTImamate of 'AsTr 93
interests on Farasan the Resident requested permission for a ship to
be stationed in the vicinity of Farasan. The Colonial Office agreed on
19 November ‘until the truth of the reports was known’. Several days
later the company was informed that ships of ‘His Majesty’s
Government . . . have standing orders to maintain British interests in
those waters.... »9 3
In face of the growing threat from the Yemen, Sayyid Mustafa
asked on the 6 February 1927 for 500 rifles and a further 300 boxes
of ammunition. In view of the urgency of the situation the Resident
gave Cooper the rifles before receiving permission from the Colonial
Office: but on 22 February the loan was not approved and two days
later the Resident asked Cooper to return the rifles.9 4 The Resident
had urged the Colonial Office to grant the supply of rifles on the
grounds that the concession might be cancelled if the rifles were not
supplied. The Colonial Office argued, when instructing Aden not to
permit the supply of the rifles, that it was not the concern of the
British Government to stabilize the IdrTsT as he was under ibn Sa‘ud’s
protection: nor was Britain under any obligation to ensure the
maintenance of the Anglo-Saxon concession on Farasan. Moreover,
the British Government had recently assured the Italian Government
that protection to be afforded British subjects in the Red Sea in
commercial matters would not assume a political character. 9 5
The Company was informed that the Resident would use his good
influence at all times ‘so far as the situation may permit to bring the
parties to agreement’ but the Government regretted they could not
authorize the Resident ‘to accept a definite and permanent position
as arbitrator in disputes’, nor could it undertake to enforce an
eventual award on any party.96
When the terms of the IdrTsT-ibn Sa‘ud agreement were made
known the Resident advised, in view of the new circumstances, that
he should not take a permanent position as arbitrator, but that he
should only be ready to use his good offices. The Colonial Office
endorsed these views.
The previous November Cooper reached Za’l FT1, one of the
Farasan Islands, to commence work, but he soon encountered
difficulties for in December Jamal Pasha, acting presumably on
behalf of the IdrTsT, requested the next instalment of the payment
for the concession which amounted to £5000, although this sum did
not fall due until the following April or May. The IdrTsT was in
desperate need of cash and arms to defend himself against the
Imam’s expected attack. At the same time Sayyid Mustafa, the one
person who could have reached a compromise began to lose his
influence with the IdrTsT over the disposal of the money paid by the