The Guardian (And Evening star, with which is incorporated the West Coast times.) SATURDAY, JUNE 7th. 1924. KINGS OF ARABIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening star, with which is incorporated the West Coast times.) SATURDAY, JUNE 7th. 1924. KINGS OF ARABIA.

(Vu.oXKi. Haiku. ii F. .Liion was tor many veals all ollieial at Aden, and political agent in the hinterland. During the war lie was chief adviser on S-W. Arahia to the High { onimissioner of Kgv| i, Consec|Ueiil ly lie is well i|iialilied to writs* “Kings of Aialiia”, which work is an account of the rise and fall of Turkish sovereignty in the peninsula, lie begins by tracing tin* history of Biitain's association with tiie (ountry. ■which dates from 10110. when toe As: eli.-e ,i visit-. I Mokha. A few years afterwards a British Residency was established there, and was maintained until 1828. During the Napoleon. w ars ( ..loiiel Miii rav lauded a force at Aden, where the Sultan treated him most hospitably, and even offered Aden to the British. Aden, however. was not actually acquired until later, and the storv ol it. although half forgotten, is it remarkably interesting one. which Colonel Jacob veuves. In 182'. Captain Michael Bagnold was Resident at Mokha. In 18‘2i. to quote his own words, ‘‘convinced that steam communication with Kuro|e must eventually take place by that route, and that Aden was the only port fit bv nature for a depot. 1 proceeded thither and after a careful survey of the place, visited the capital, J.aho.i, where I succeeded in peisiiading the Sultan to make an offer of the port, and fortress to the British Government on the most liberal terms. This was. unfortuiinte]v. declined by Sir John Malcolm. The prediction T then made to him, namely, j that we should expend hundreds of j lives, lakhs of treasure, return to Aden, pray, fight and pray for what was fhen offered as a free gift, has been amply fulfilled.” In 1820 an abortive attempt was made to establish a coaling station at Aden. But tlm natives would not work : the depot was considered to be too far from Bombay, and ‘‘Aden once more sank into oblivion." However, in 1838 the project was reviver! and Commander Haines was sent with a flotilla to investigate. He landed at various p-laces, but either they wore unsuitable or negotiations for their cession fell through, and eventually tlio Government turned to Aden again. The Sultan promised for a satisfactory quid pro quo to transfer fhe port when troups came to take

possession, but when they arrived the following year lie would not carry out Ids agreement. Haines replied that refusal was tantamount to a declaration of war. but lie did not yet despair of a peaceful settlement. He offered the Sultan SOOO dollars for Aden s surrender. and a bargain might have been struck bad not the Arab envoys. Imping to pocket the difference, translated the offer to their master as being only fiOOf). So the Sultan was obdurate. and after some sharp fighting in which groat gallantry was displayed upon both sides. Aden was taken. At a later date, Haines wrote: “Though iht> first conquest of her Majesty after Her accession it was scarcely noted forgotten doubtless by the Government owing to their anxiety for the success of the unfortunate campaign in Afghanistan. . . . Aden has thrice

repulsed united Arab endeavours to retake it. is now a peaceful settlement and a valuable brilliant in the Imperial diadem, requiring only a European war tu develop its tine value.” Thai prodiclioii also was fullilled many years later. Hut Aden lias always been a ( mdeivJla. appropriately situated on uu ash-heap. It is a proof of bow little Biitaiii lias done in Aden that to this day il is without fresh water. Colonel Jacob gives an interesting account of the place and it- people, of the hinterland. which he ha> often visited, of Turkey's unsuccessful attempts to est-abi-.li herself in the interior, where her authority has always been nominal ol the various independent kingdoms in Arabia, and of the policy v. hu h Britain has adopted towards them in the pa-t. He also discusses the policy that "Britain should adopt in the future.