'File 379/1906 Railways: Aden; railway construction in Aden hinterland; Aden-Lahej Railway' [‎85v] (175/308)

the tribal country in political relations with the
British settlement. Turkish infractions of a
serious character since the notification made to the
Porte in 1873, have been mainly due to the want
of a map recognised as correct by both the Turkish
and the British Governments. Within the pro
tectorate of the nine cantons since the occupation of
Aden in there has usually been some degree of
disturbance, and the precise authority of the leading
Chiefs has changed so much from time to time that
our policy in direct negotiations with the tribesmen
has necessarily followed the varying exigencies of
the day. For instance, the Subaihis were, by
the engagement of the 5th of May 1881,
recognised as under the ‘’sovereign authority” of
the Abdali Sultan, but after five years it became
necessary to treat that arrangement as inoperative,
and the Subaihis resumed their former indepen
dent relations with the Aden Itesidency. The
guiding face is that during the last halt century
these inter-tribal disputes have, to a large extent,
legulated themselves, and admitted of peaceful
settlement by the liesident at Aden, without the
continual presence of either troops or Political
Agents in the interior. In the opinion of His
Majesty’s Government the recent treaties of
demarcation and protectorate ought to strengthen
the hands of the Political authorities at Aden in
resuming the long-standing policy of inactivity,
and call for no departure from it. It may be
perfectly true that the Arabs expect British
troops to remain in their country, and that some
Chiefs and some sections of tribes might be glad of
their support. But His Majesty’s Government
never authorised any action calculated to commit
them to this extension of their responsibilities,
involving, as it must, an augmentation of the Aden
garrison, and an increase of expenditure. The
protection formally extended to the tribes is a
protection against foreign aggression, and had
particular reference to the proceedings of the
Turkish Government, in respect of which the
situation has been fundamentally altered by the
settlement of the frontier agreed to by the Porte.
The presence of a British garrison at H’thala is
onlv too likely to he regarded as inimical to Turkish
interests, and as indicating an intention to interfere
more than formerly in matters of tribal adminis
tration. It is inconsistent with a policy of reliance
on the effect of diplomatic representations at Con
stantinople in the event of violations of the frontier
or serious disputes, and for the reasons stated in
paragraph 2 of my Despatch dated 4th of May
1906, is open to other serious objections.
3. With much satisfaction I observe that the
general principle now decisively adopted by His
Majesty’s Government commands the cheerful
adherence of Your Excellency in Council. You
inform me (paragraph 4) that you “ most cordially
“ subscribe to the policy of non-interference with
“ the internal and domestic policy of the tribes.”