Page 97 - Arabian Studies (II)

The Powers and Mineral Concessions in the Idrisi Imamate of ‘AsTr 87
St. Gerinain-en-Laye Convention. Thus, on 25 March the Syndicate
announced its readiness to ship Lc Gras ammunition as part payment
for the Farasan concession.5 2 In April Holmes informed the Idrisi
when they met at Kamaran he would supply arms if the Idrisi signed
the concession. But the Administrator referred the question to Aden
due to the renewed hostilities between the Idrisi and Yemen. Before
any answer had been received from London — where Kamanin’s
query had been redirected from Aden — Sayyid ‘All, unlike his
father, refused to sign the concession with Holmes who, in his turn,
cancelled the order for ammunition. A week later, however, the
Idrisi reversed his decision and offered Holmes the concession on
payment of an advance of $50,000 and 1000 boxes of ammunition.
Two days later the Resident received instructions from London not
to permit the supply of ammunition to the Idrisi by the Syndicate
on the grounds that the Arms Traffic Convention prohibited the
supply of war munitions to unstable governments, and moreover the
1917 treaty between Britain and ‘Aslr referred only to British
protection in the event of‘foreign’ attack.53 It has been suggested
that Sayyid ‘All revoked his decisions as an agreement with
Christians might alienate some of his tribes.54 Following the decision
not to permit the Syndicate to furnish the Idrisi with arms, the
British Government approached both the Italian and French Govern­
ments to request them not to supply arms to either Imam Yahya or
the Idrisi.5 5
Other companies had also shown an interest in acquiring con­
cessions in the region. W. and A. Graham and Co., requested Cairo
for a mineral licence to prospect on Farasan in 1922 but were told
that the islands were not under British administration. 5 6 In March
1926 Sir A. T. Wilson of the Anglo-Persian Oil Co. approached the
British Government about concessions which he had heard had been
granted in 1923 to the Shell Mex Group. This was a reference to an
agreement, previously unknown, which Sayyid Mustafa claimed to
have negotiated with Alexander Urquhart on behalf of Shell Mex.
Sayyid Mustafa stated that he had drawn up a document which
Sayyid Muhammad had sealed a month before his death. Sayyid
Mustafa had omitted to inform Urquhart of Sayyid Muhammad’s
approval of the concession.5 8 The Resident in Aden considered in
1926 this alleged agreement invalid although Sayyid Mustafa
confirmed he had negotiated such an agreement.5 9
On the 4th May 1926 Craufurd won three concessions from the
Idrisi on behalf of the Eastern and General Syndicate. In view of this
agreement between the Idrisi and the Eastern and General Syndicate
the Anglo-Persian Oil Co., decided against involvement in Farasan.60
Meanwhile on the 15th November 1925 the Idrisi cabled to