File 600/1905 Pt 6 'Aden Hinterland: Upper Yaffai; treaties with Sultan Kahtan and other Chiefs' [‎61r] (117/212)

Confidential.
No. 7818.
Political Department.
Bombay Castle, VZth December 1904.
Prom
C. H. A. HILL, Esq., C.I.E.,
Acting 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. ;
To
S. M. FRASER, Esq., C.I.E.,
Officiating Secretary to the Government of India,
Foreign Department.
Sir,
I am directed to reply to your letter No. 2483-E.A., dated the 5th August
1904, with which was forwarded a copy of the Secret Despatch from the
Secretary of State No. 30, dated the 15th July last, dealing with the question of
our relations with the tribes in the Hinterland of Aden, and I am to enclose a
copy of the report No. 197, dated the 19th November 1904, from the Political
Resident, Aden, reporting his opinion on the subject.
2. In his Despatch of the 1st April 1904 the Secretary of State defined
the extent to which he was prepared to recognise that our obligations have
increased as being (1) the performance of friendly offices for the Turkish
officers; and (2), in particular, the restraint of the tribes within the British Pro
tectorate from committing offences beyond the border. In the Despatch of
July last the Secretary of State reiterates his recognition of the fact that to this
extent the responsibility of the Government of India in regard to the external
relations of the protected tribes has increased, and he proceeds to make
certain suggestions for regulating our policy towards the tribes in internal affairs.
Two definite proposals are put forward for discussion, first, that by the superior
influence of the Sultan of Lahej, or secondly, that by a clear understanding
with each separate tribe, Government might induce the tribes to come to an
arrangement amongst themselves in the matter of (a) common duties, such as
the protection of their trade routes, and (b) those connected with religious
and inter-tribal disputes.
3. The Governor in Council has given this important question his most
attentive consideration. It does not seem to him to be necessary to
trace at length the history of the development of our policy towards the
Arab tribes in the neighbourhood of Aden, since the final stage of this
has still been, as quoted by the Secretary of State, the “ principle of tribal
responsibility coupled with the minimum of British interference;” and the
problem at present confronting us is not so much, whether that policy is to be
abandoned, as in what manner it can be adapted, if adaptation is needed, to the
circumstances brought about by the operations of the Boundary Commission.
4. I am now to turn to the specific suggestion of the Secretary of State.
It will be seen that the 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. at Aden is averse to the proposal to
impose upon any one Chief, such as the Sultan of Lahej, the responsibility of
maintaining authority over any considerable number of the tribes. As the
Government of India are doubtless aware, the authority of the Sultan of Lahej
does not extend even to the Subaihi, who are theoretically his vassals; still
less does he enjoy any real power over the Haushabi, although he was, for some
time at least, their conqueror. Moreover, any attempt unduly to exaggerate tiie
importance or influence of any one tribe has the inevitable result of alienating
the others who are by no means prepared to view with a friendly eye an increase
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