Page 104 - Arabian Studies (II)

94 Arabian Studies II

Shell Group.97 In January 1927 Sayyid Mustafa’s son, Muhtadi
was replaced as governor of Farasan by Sharif Ahmad al-Hazml.9 8
Italian interference was also increasing: in February the Italian
ship ‘Archimcde’ became very active along the IdrTsI coast and at
Farasan.99 In face of these difficulties the Company requested that a
sloop remain in the vicinity of Farasan so long as the Company was
there or until its future ownership was settled and also as a deterrent
against the Imam’s launching an attack on the islands.1 00 Nonethe­
less work on Farasan proceeded and Sayyid Mustafa received the first
instalment from the company amounting to £5000 on 18 February
1927.1 0 1
Further Italian intrigue followed in June 1927: an Italian agent
visited JTzan to discuss terms under which Italy could conclude a
treaty with the IdrTsI and the following month appointed himself as
governor of Farasan.1 02 Relations began to deteriorate between the
IdrTsI and the concessionary Company. In August a representative of
the Company discussed with the IdrTsI an alleged complaint against
the manner in which its employees were carrying out the terms of
the agreement. The tribes wanted more money and arms from the
Company which the latter refused to supply. As a result the IdrTsI
ordered all work on Farasan to stop. When the Company refused to
comply with the order it was feared that force might be used. The
Company brought the matter up with the Colonial Office stating that
the IdrTsI alleged a verbal agreement between the two parties for
3000 boxes of ammunition and 3000 rifles on loan: the IdrTsI
complained that only 1000 rifles had so far been received. The IdrTsI
was demanding a 25 per cent royalty. The Company in their letter to
the Colonial Office denied the existence of any such verbal
agreement.1 03
It is not clear what motivated the IdrlsI to make this claim about
an alleged verbal understanding to supply rifles and ammunition; it is
possible that he was looking for an excuse to break the agreement
with the Company and transfer it to the Italians, or, as the IdrlsI
s claimed, the tribes were dissatisfied with the terms of the concession
and were putting pressure upon him. What is sure is that Italian
money played a role in the dispute.
A meeting between the IdrlsI and tribal representatives in Sabya
resulted in the postponement of the order to cease work for a period
of two months so as to enable a reply to arrive from the Company in
London concerning the IdrlsI’s demands for arms. In the meantime
the Resident undertook to try to patch up the differences but Britain
refused to intervene with ibn Sa‘ud as this would constitute
recognition of the Mecca Agreement which Britain had promised the
Italians it would not recognize for as long as possible. 1 0 4

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