IOR/L/PS/10/465

Papers relating to the incarceration by Turkish authorities of the British Vice-Consul at Hodeida (also spelt Hodeidah) [Al-Ḥudaydah], George Alexander Richardson, Richardson’s wife, Mary Richardson, and the French Vice-Consul at Hodeida, Monsieur Roux, in the wake of the destruction of a Turkish cargo vessel in Hodeida harbour by the crew of HMS Minto, on 4 November 1914. The file includes:

• Papers detailing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the three prisoners. Papers refer to the Italian Government’s protest to the Turkish Government over the incident in Hodeida, in which the Italian Consulate was raided by Turkish officers, and the efforts of the Italian Vice-Consulate at Hodeida, Cavaliere Gino Cecchi, to secure the release of the prisoners.
• Richardson’s account of his capture, incarceration, and subsequent release on 6 February 1915 (ff 62-86).
• Mary Richardson’s own account of events (ff 43-58).
• A draft note from Arthur Hirtzel of the India Office, addressed to the Secretary of State, conceding that HMS Minto had been instructed to ‘proceed up the Red Sea & destroy Turkish steamers and dhows’, and that HMS Minto had set fire to the Turkish vessel before the proclamation of war with Turkey was formally signed (f 60).

Other subjects covered in the file include:

• Prior to Richardson’s incarceration, discussion between the Foreign Office and Government of India over the entrustment of British Indian interests at Hodeida to the port’s Italian Vice-Consul (ff, 151-154, ff 159-162).
• After Richardson’s release, the Italian Vice-Consul’s assumption of British consular affairs at Hodeida, and the approval of his work amongst Government officials and members of the Indian merchant community at Hodeida (ff 18-37).
• Correspondence amongst British officials dated 1916 and 1917, enquiring after the prospect of formally recognising the work done by foreign consular officials at Aden, particularly that of the Italian Vice-Consul at Hodeida (ff 2-14).