THE WAR IN ARABIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22257, 9 May 1934, Page 7

THE WAR IN ARABIA

, IBN SAUD AND, IMAM _ ■", . V BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE. ~' . LONDQN,/May. ?. < (Received May; 8, at 5.5 p.m.) 'lnformation has been received in London that 1 the British Minister at Jeddah (Sir Andrew Ryan) has been given, an assurance.that.order will be established in the Red Sea part of Hodeida recently occupied by the victorious Wahabis. In the House of Commons to-day, when questioned regarding the. situation in Hodeida and "Yemen, Sir John Simon said the British Government had preserved an attitude of strict neutrality toM-ards the conflict between Ibn Saud and the Imam, with both of whom the British; Government was in friendly treaty relations. It was taking only such measures as had proved essential for safeguarding the lives and property of British subjects and British protected persons in the area affected by the hostilities. ; ■',.., ■ ,-. .'.■:

Nejd, the Hejaz and Aeir, which form King Ibn Sand's territory, are considerably bigger than Yemen, but the total population is probably only about 2,000,000 compared with the approximately 3,500,000, inhabitants of Yemen. In the past Great Britain has on occasion befriended Ibn. Saud, and between 1917 and 1923 paid him £542,000 in subsidies, at first because of his help against Turkey in the war, and afterwards on Condition that he stayed at with those of his neighbours in whom Britain was interested,;■ihat he kept the pilgrim routes in his. country fiafe,;and that he was guided by Britain in his foreign policy. • In 1927-Britain recognised him as an independent ruler. The Imam of Yemen,.on the other hand, was a tborn—though a'small one—in Britain's side till recently. He gradually encroached on the Aden Protectorate till; he was ejected by the Royal Air" Force.' Recently, ' however, he reached a friendly agreement with Britain. With approximately half his subjects,' the Shafais, ,hV is extremely unpopular, because.of his exactions, and he rules them-by force alone. ■ y