"ملف 8/15 سلسلة الجزيرة العربية - ١٩٣٣-١٩٣٩" [و‎‎١‎٠] (٤٣٤/١٩)

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2. For very many years the custom in regard to the succession to the Sultanate
of Lahej has been that after the death of the reigning Sultan his successor is elected
by certain tribal Aqils and Qadhis, who are entitled to do so. The election is then
reported to the Resident, and the new Sultan is accorded official recognition unless
there are very cogent reasons to withhold it. The customary procedure thus
briefly outlined is common to the whole Protectorate.
3. There are five branches of the family of the Sultan of Lahej, in two of which
(the Ali Muhsin and the Fadhl Muhsin)the succession has been confined, with
fairly regular alternation, since the death of the common ancestor, Sultan Muhsin
Fadhl, in 1847.
4. On the acceesion of the present Sultan, His Highness Sir Abdul Karim bin
Fadhl Ali Muhsin, in 1915, the heads of the Fadhl Muhsin refused to recognise him.
In 1919 a rapproachment was brought about between this dissident element and
His Highness, but the animosity still smouldered, and in 1930 it broke out in the
form of a conspiracy, instigated by these persons during the absence of His Highness
in India, to remove him and to arrange the succession of a member of the badhl
Muhsin branch. The conspiracy was discovered ; and, on his return from India,
the Sultan took such action against the ringleaders as he hoped would put an end
to overt opposition to his authority.
5. In consequence of this incident His Highness made tentative proposals to
the Residency that he should ensure continuity in the succession by proclaiming
his eldest son, Sultan Fahdl bin Abdul Karim as heir-apparent. My predecessor
advised him not to do so and the matter appeared to have dropped.
6. On the 12th February of this year, however, His Highness informed me that
at the instance of the electors, and with his permission, an election had been held,
that his eldest son Sultan Fadhl bin Abdul Karim had been unanimously elected
as his successor, and that he had accordingly nominated him as such.
7. His Highness had caused or allowed these steps to be taken without prior
reference to the Residency, and I was about to express my objections to this proce
dure when the report was received of the attempted assassination of Sultan Fadhl
at the hands or at the instigation of the leaders of the Fadhl Mohsin branch {vide
Political Intelligence Summary, paragraph 2260, et seq). This new circumstances
made it impolitic for me to advise His Highness to retract his recognition of Sultan
Fadhl his successor, for the reason that His Highness’s acquiescence in my request
might seem to be a concession to violence ; and I therefore considered it advisable
to confine myself at the moment to asking His Highness for an explanation of the
reasons that had prompted him in departing from the customary practice in regard
to the succession.
8. In reply His Highness explained that his action was designed to guard
against the strife and dissension that are the usual consequences of disputes regarding
the succession on the death of a tribal Chief. He argued that the Sultanate
of Lahej has come to be recognised as the centre of arbitration between tribal Chiefs
over a wide area, and that it is therefore particularly necessary that continuous
security and order should be ensured in it; and he pointed out that continuance of
the custom hitherto existing in regard to the succession tended towards multiplicity
of claimants and complexity of issue. He further contended that the electors, who
are the custodians of custom, had themselves initiated the proposal of an election
during his life-time, and that he had acceded to their wishes in the best interests of
his State.
9. I have told His Highness that I am reporting what has occurred and the
explanation that he has given me to His Majesty's Government.
10. A settlement of the succession during the life-time of the present Sultan
will have considerable advantages if it is loyally observed when his death occurs.
Since 1918 and especially during the past five years, the Sultanate of Lahej has
assumed an immportance unknown before the Great AVar, principally due to the
personality of the present Sultan and to his advisers and assistants from his own
branch of the family. And the very close contact that has been established between
His Highness and the Residency in the consideration of all major matters of general
importance in the Protectorate render continuity of succession (and consequently
of policy), at Lahej, very desirable.
MC364FD