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'File 379/1906 Railways: Aden; railway construction in Aden hinterland; Aden-Lahej Railway' [‎19r] (42/308)

The record is made up of 1 volume (150 folios). It was created in 20 Aug 1904-3 Apr 1922. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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{'
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THE ADEN HINTERLAND.
Lord LAMINGTON rose to ask the
Secretary of State for India whether he
could give any information about the
railway to be constructed by a French
syndicate, from Hodeida to Sana’a, and
whether all idea of railway extension in the
Aden Hinterland had been abandoned ; also
whether he could state what progress had
been made in the dredging of Aden Harbour.
The noble Lord said : My Lords, I regret
that slight indisposition prevents the noble
Viscount, Lord Morley, being present this
afternoon to answer these Questions. It
was his policy when Secretary of State for
India which had some bearing on one of the
Questions I have put down. Some eight
or nine years ago, after the conclusion of
certain operations in the Aden Hinterland,
the Government had under consideration
a project for the construction of a railway
from Aden to the high ground in the
Hinterland to a place called Dthala. This
was under consideration with the object
of helping to pacify and bring into good
order the Aden Hinterland, and also as
affording a place where a sanatorium could
be formed at which the troops in Aden
could find refuge from its scorching rocks.
But the policy of the noble Viscount was
to withdraw altogether from the 'interland
and to have as little interference as possible
on our part with anything that went on in
that country. Therefore any considera
tion of a railway lapsed. At the same time
the Chief of Lahej had granted one or more
concessions for a railway to a company
who wished to construct what would have
been a portion of the bigger scheme—from
our Aden frontier at Shaikh Othman to his
capital—but even this railway was pro
hibited as coming under the grounds for ,
withdrawal which the noble Viscount con
sidered expedient to adopt. This always j
seemed rather a selfish policy on our part,
that because it did not happen to suit our
policy we should prevent one of the Chiefs
under our suzerainty opening up his
country. But it was obvious that if the
railway was not carried on to Aden it
would be of no value at all.
A few days ago I saw in the Press a state
ment that a railway syndicate was beginning
to construct a line from Hodeida to
Sana’a, which is 140 miles inland and is the
capital of Yemen. If it is the fact that
there is now going to be a development of
the southern portion of Arabia, I would ask
whether it would not be advisable to recon
sider the policy which was adopted by the
noble Viscount and allow the development
of the Aden Hinterland by the great civilis
ing agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. of a railway. Probably there is
more reason for doing so because of the
scheme for deepening and improving the
inner and outer harbours of Aden itself.
This is with the idea of attracting trade
particularly from East Africa, but there has
always been a strong desire on the part of
the inhabitants of Aden to promote the
trade of the place by having better inter
course with the Hinterland. I am well
aware that our first consideration is of Aden
as a strategical position, and that from
time to time the view of the Admiralty has
altered as regards its value in this respect.
That being so, it was not unnatural if the
Government have been reluctant to en
courage Aden to become a commercial
entrepot and so increase their responsibilities
for defence. On the other hand, if in
response to local demands an improv ement
in the port is being carried out it is incon-
> y.

About this item

Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, and notes, relating to proposals for the construction of a steam railway between Aden and its hinterland from 1904.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that volume by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

The correspondence is followed by further discussion on extending into Aden a railway to be built from Dar-al-Amir to Nobat Dakim [Nawbatal-Dakim, Yemen; identified on map four miles north of Al'Anad but not corresponding to any actual place], on its further extension to D'thala [Aḑ Ḑāli‘, Yemen], on the permission and financial contribution sought from the Government of India, and on negotiations with local rulers and tribes. A projected line from Hodeida [Al Hudaydah, Yemen] to Sana'a is also briefly discussed in the volume.

The main correspondents are the Aden Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. in London, and the Government of India.

The volume also includes cuttings from Parliamentary debates on 'The Aden Hinterland', and a 'Map of the Proposed Railway from Aden to Nobat Dakim' on folio 114.

Extent and format
1 volume (150 folios)
Arrangement

The subject 379 (Railways) consists of one volume. The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 152; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A large folded map is enclosed in a polyester sleeve, on folio 114.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'File 379/1906 Railways: Aden; railway construction in Aden hinterland; Aden-Lahej Railway' [‎19r] (42/308), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/89, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026199056.0x00002b> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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