IOR/L/PS/10/559

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes relating to British political and strategic policy 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. Particularly it discusses relations with the Idrisi Saiyid [Sayyid Muḥammad bin ‘Alī al-Idrīsī] and the Shaikh of Mavia in the context of British military competition with the Ottoman Empire.

The discussion in the volume includes:

• The Turkish advance across the frontier and invasion of the Aden Protectorate
• Negotiations with the Idrisi and the Government of India's unwillingness to provide further assistance despite the Resident at Aden's appeal against this stance
• The supply of French and Italian ammunition for the Idrisi
• Promise of a further grant of money to the Shaikh of Mavia.

Included in the volume is a copy (ff 141-143) of the 'Notes on the condition of Turkish Yemen written for the use of the Political Resident at Aden'.

The principal correspondents in the volume are: the Political Resident, Aden; the Secretary to the Government of India; and the Viceroy of India.

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.