IOR/L/PS/12/2125

This volume concerns relations between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Most of the correspondence is focussed on British policy in response to the Saudi-Yemeni conflict.

Related matters that feature in the correspondence include the following:

• Reports in March 1934 that peace negotiations between Saudi and Yemeni representatives have failed.
• The British response to reports of the evacuation of Hodeida by Yemeni forces, which include the dispatch of HMS Penzance and proposals to fly aircraft over the town.
• Discussion as to whether the British Government should invite Italian naval cooperation regarding Hodeida.
• The presence of HMS Penzance, and later HMS Enterprise, at Hodeida.
• The state of affairs in Hodeida (as reported by the Commander of HMS Enterprise) following its occupation by Saudi forces.
• Saudi concerns that Italy might intervene in the conflict on the side of the Imam of Yemen.
• Discussion as to whether or not the Italian Government's decision to land troops at Hodeida and Mocha – ostensibly to protect Italian interests – constitutes an act of intervention.
• Differences of opinion between the British and Italian Governments over the sovereignty of Asir.
• Reports in May 1934 of the suspension of hostilities and the beginning of peace negotiations.
• Unfounded rumours of the death of Imam of Yemen [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn].

Notable correspondents include the following: His Majesty's Minister at Jedda (Sir Andrew Ryan); His Majesty's Ambassador in Rome (James Eric Drummond); His Majesty's Ambassador in Bagdad [Baghdad] (Sir Francis Humphrys); the High Commissioner, Egypt (Miles Wedderburn Lampson); the Political Resident, Aden (Bernard Rawdon Reilly); the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Philip Cunliffe-Lister); the Commander of HMS Penzance; the Commander of HMS Enterprise; the Senior Officer of the Red Sea Sloops; the Command-in-Chief, Mediterranean; the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; officials of the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, the Admiralty, and the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department.

In addition to correspondence the volume includes copies of political intelligence summaries from the Aden Political Residency, the Bahrain Political Agency, and the Kuwait Political Agency respectively, as well as a sketch map of the Arabian Peninsula.

The French material consists of two items of correspondence. The aforementioned sketch map is dated June 1914; the rest of the volume dates from 1934, with most of the material falling within April-May 1934 (a few items of correspondence date from February-March 1934).

The volume includes two dividers which give a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 3-4).