IOR/L/PS/10/558

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes relating to consideration by the British of the political and strategic situation in the Red Sea area near Aden and actions which might promote British interests in the period up to the start of the First World War.

Topics discussed include:

• Turkish intrigues with the Imam of Yemen and the Idrissi
• The proposal by the Resident at Aden in way of preliminary measures to counteract Turkish influence, (1) the loan to the Imam of a man to help with the manufacture of gunpowder; and (2) the bestowal of Hon KCIG’s on the Sultans of Lahej and Mokalla.
• Pan-Arab emissaries to Arabia
• British relations with Chiefs of Aden Hinterland
• Reports of Turkish military activity in south-west Arabia
• Measures to be taken in the Yemen in view of probable war with Turkey
• Destruction of Turkish shipping in the Red Sea
• annexation of the Farasan Islands and bombardment or blockade of Hodeida
• The views of the Viceroy on the holy places of Najaf and Kerbala
• Proposed negotiations with Idrisi and alliance between Abdali Sultan and Marvia Sheikh.

The principal correspondents in the volume are: the Political Resident at Aden; the Colonial Office; the Viceroy; the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for India, India Office; the Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.