Abstract: The file contains correspondence between British officials relating to political and religious activity in Hedjaz [Saudi Arabia] and Batavia [Jakarta] by Arab merchants and other notables originating from opposing factions in the Hadhramaut [Hadramawt] region of the Aden Protectorate [Yemen]. The main correspondents are the Political Resident at Aden, the British Consul and Vice-Consul at Jeddah and the British Consul-General at Batavia. In addition to exchanging intelligence, the correspondents also discuss measures to be taken to prevent the development of a new arms smuggling route from the Dutch East Indies [Indonesia] and the Straits Settlement of Singapore, to the minor port of Bir Ali in Aden Protectorate, thereby avoiding port clearances at Mukalla.The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 40; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.