Page 98 - Arabian Studies (II)

88 Arabian Studies II

Sayyid al-‘ArabT in Aden to proceed to Jlzan to complete negotia­
tions for the Farasan kerosene and SalTf salt concessions — the latter
to become operative as soon as Imamic forces had evacuated the
SalTf Peninsula.61 November was a critical moment for the Idris! as
Imam Yahya’s forces had reached as far north as Midi and were thus
a threat to the IdrTsT’s very capital, Sabya. At the same time ibn
Sa‘ud’s troops were at Hall on their way to Sabya. As a result of the
IdrTsT’s instructions Sayyid al-‘ArabT cabled to Holmes and then
asked the Resident for the supply of ammunition: the latter
promised to forward the request to the Colonial Office but he did
not expect London to change its policy of neutrality in the
IdrisT-Imamic war.6 2
In March 1926 Craufurd of the Eastern and General Syndicate
reached Jlzan and negotiated three agreements for the concessions
but a few days later the IdrlsI cancelled them.63 The following
month Holmes arrived in Jlzan where he was more successful in his
negotiations. On 15 May Holmes reached Aden and informed the
Resident he had acquired the Farasan concession subject to an
advance of money and the SalTf concession on condition the
Syndicate provided ammunition.64 On 21 May Craufurd requested
the Resident to obtain the Colonial Office’s sanction for the export
of ammunition to the IdrTsT.6 s The Resident immediately cabled
London that the Syndicate should be afforded every help: he asked
why, since the Imam was being supplied with armaments by the
Italians, the IdrTsT could not be supplied by the Eastern and General
Syndicate for ‘the immediate protection of the concession area’.66
The Colonial Office’s reply arrived in Aden on 20 September
authorising the Syndicate to supply arms to the IdrTsT ‘from any
source’.6 7
The Syndicate had previously attempted to obtain permission
from the authorities in Aden to occupy land on Kamaran to facilitate
the task of exploiting SalTf: the application was rejected due to
uncertainty over the future sovereignty of the island and it was
stated that it was not possible to make arrangements for the sale or
lease of land. Churchill, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, was
prepared to afford the Syndicate ‘every facility for the occupation of
this land on sufferance if such an agreement would be of any
help’.6 8
It was argued in support of the change of British policy that as
Imam Yahya had shown he wished to eliminate the IdrTsT — the
consequence of which would be the Imam’s occupation of Farasan
and his granting of the concession to an Italian company - the
supply of arms to the IdrTsT was necessary as a means of keeping the