§ Mr. Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the raids by forces from the Yemen into the Aden Protectorate.
§ Mr. LytteltonAfter the protest to the Yemen Government, of which I informed 41W the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid) on 30th June, the Yemen Minister in London assured the Foreign Office, on 1st July, of his Government's desire to restore tranquillity on the frontier. He accepted the suggestion, which had been made to him by the Minister of State, that the frontier officers on both sides should consult to this end.
On 8th July a Note was handed to the Yemen Government pointing out that Her Majesty's Government had constantly striven to ensure peaceful conditions on the border, but that the actions of the Yemen Government gave colour to the belief that they laid claim to the whole of the Aden Protectorate and had no intention of settling the frontier problem. No fewer than 28 raids on the Protectorate had taken place in May; Mukeiras had been attacked on 10th June and some 480 Yemenis, including regulars, had invaded the Protectorate on 18th June.
Her Majesty's Government called upon the Yemen Government to stop these attacks and to refrain from fomenting unrest within the Protectorate by supplying lawless elements with arms, money and food. Her Majesty's Government were encouraged by the Yemen Government's agreement to frontier talks which the Governor of Aden would be invited to arrange. If, however, the attacks continued. Her Majesty's Government must reserve their right to take such steps, including direct action in the frontier areas, as may be necessary to protect the territory and inhabitants of the Aden Protectorate.
The opportunity was taken to inform the Chargé d'Affaires that on 18th June, when he had accused the R.A.F. of machine-gunning barracks in Yemen territory, our aircraft not only did not cross the frontier but did not carry any ammunition on that day. He was also told that the Dammani rebels were reported to be again sheltering in Yemen territory and unless the Yemen Government instructed the Amil of Beidha to co-operate to the fullest extent in removing all causes of friction, it was doubtful whether much good would come of the frontier talks.
The Governor of Aden had hoped to arrange for the frontier officers to begin their talks on 14th July, but I am sorry to learn that the Amil of Beidha is 42W reported to be unwell so that the talks may have to be postponed. I sincerely hope these talks are successful, but I confess I am not encouraged by learning that on 6th July, five days after the Yemen Minister delivered his peaceful assurances, a ration party inside the Protectorate was again fired on from across the border.