'File 379/1906 Railways: Aden; railway construction in Aden hinterland; Aden-Lahej Railway' [‎67r] (138/308)

No. 475, dated 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 29th January 1905.
From— Major-General H. M. Mason, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Aden,
To—The Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , Political Department.
I have the honour to inform you that on the 23rd instant I received a
letter from Messrs. Cowasjee Dinshaw and Brothers of that date, of which I
enclose a copy, in which they informed me that they had obtained a concession
from the Abdali Sultan for the construction of a railway within Abdali limits
from Nohat Dakim to Dar-el-Amir, and applied to me for a concession to
extend this proposed railway into British limits from Dar-el-Amir into Aden. I
enclose true copies of English translations of the actual agreements which Messrs.
Cowasjee Dinshaw and Brothers have entered into with the Abdali Sultan, with
which that firm has supplied me at my request.
2. This agreement was entered into without reference to me and apparently
both parties to it were under the impression that ns the agreement was for the
construction of a railway within ALdali limits, it did not concern Government
and that therefore it was unnecessary to inform me.
3. I would here at once mention that Mr. Menahem Messa, another local
apnlicant for the railway concession, has also lately approached the Abdali
Sultan in this matter, and that he informed me a few days ago that the Sultan
had offered to enter into an agreement with him too, and that it was only upon ^
his suggestion that the agreement should be made dependent upon the approval
and sanction of Government that the Sultan had withheld his offer. Mr. \
Menahem Messa informed me that the Sultan repudiated the idea of such a .
condition and expressed the opinion that Government had no concern with
such a matter as the construction of a railway within his limits.
4. Upon my informing Mr. Hormusjee Cow^asjee Dinshaw of the attitude
usually adopted by Government in regard to direct dealings between Native
States and capitalists in India and in regard to negotiations on the subject of
railway concessions he pleaded ignorance thereof, expressed regret for what
he had done, urged that he was actuated by a strong desire h) benefit rather
than to embarrass Government, and has expressed his willingness to cancel
the agreement at once if so desired, in spite of the fact that he has actually
deposited a sum of £2,000 with the Abdali Sultan by way of guaranteeing
fulfilment of the agreement.
5. In reporting the matter for the information of Government, I have
the honour to state that I have, for the present, refrained from addressing the
Abdali Sultan in the matter and from asking him why he did not either inform
or consult me before entering upon this important agreement. It is clear from
the information given me by both Messrs. Cowasjee Dinshaw and Brothers
and Mr. Menahem Messa that the Sultan is of opinion that it was unnecessary
to do so.
6. There is of course no question that the whole transaction now reported
is opposed to Indian Bolitical Practice and that a similar occunencc taking
place in India itself would call for stringent remark. But in view oi the fact
that such a thing as a railway concession in the Aden hinterland is without
precedent and in view of the consideration that the consent and goodwill ^of
the Abdali Sultan and other neighbouring Chiefs may be held to be essential
to the success of any railway undertaking in the hinterland, I would urge
upon Government the desirability of taking a lenient view of the incident ana
of doing all possible to foster the spirit of enterprise and interest just now
displayed by the Abdali Sultan in the matter.
7. Erom your letter to my address, No. 7469, dated the 5th ultimo, and
its accompaniments, I note that it is desired to defer consideration of this
matter until the future administration of Aden shall have been decided. Ot
the purport of this decision I personally infornaed Mr. Hormusjee some days
before receipt of his letter now enclosed, but it is evident that the negotiations
terminating with the agreement reported commenced some time before this and
that owing to the Abdali Sultan pressing for an early settlement and also with
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