File 600/1905 Pt 5 'Aden Hinterland: Treaty with Sultan of Balahaf' [‎124r] (31/152)

Resident was disposed to give ; and that he (Mohsin) could never think of
submitting to such a man. He urged that h e was the actual ruler during the
past fourteen years, and that he was the only Sultan who was recognised by
the tribesmen, and that therefore Government should accord their recognition
to his Sultanate. It was then explained to him that the Resident himself was
, not aware of the views of Government on this particular point, and that it was
not certain that Government w r ould recognise him, having regard to his past
conduct. Mohsin then earnestly declared that it was never his intention to
disobey Government, of whose mighty power he was well aware, that it was fear
that prevented him from coming, that he is now submissive, as he always
wished to be, to Government and would continue to he so and would even
“ give his own head ” for Government. Should, however, Government be not
disposed to recognise Mohsin, he wished that he should not be held responsible
for anything. It was then pointed out to him that he should not be at the
bottom of any trouble, as the great Government had a long arm and w T ould
strike hard. To this he agreed, but he again repeated that he was the only
Chief recognised by the tribesmen, and that he was the only one who could
arrange the tribal affair to their satisfaction. Here the interview practically
ended, but with a view to ascertain how Mohsin would regard the situation in
the event of Government according the Sultanate to Ahmed bin Saleh, the
Resident incidentally asked Mohsin whether he was fond of his elder brother
Ahmed, and he replied that he was fond of him, but gave no indication from
which it could be inferred that he would either agree or absolutely refuse to
accept the Sultanate of Ahmed bin Saleh Mohsin was thereupon further ques
tioned that if he was fond of his brother, as he professed to be, why he did not
come in and submit before this so as to secure his brother’s release earlier.
He replied that he was afraid that if he did come he would also have been
imprisoned along with his brother.
After making one or two requests, the chief one being that as he had
come in and submitted his brother should be given some freedom to move about,
to which the Resident assented, Mohsin took his departure, promising to remain
in Aden till such time as the orders of Government were received.
Letter No. 8010, dated the 29th Deceanher 1904,
From—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. ,
Political Department,
To— Major-General H. M. Mason, Political .Resident, Aden.
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential letter
No. 204, dated the 11th December 1904, relative to affairs at Balahaf.
2. In reply I am to request that you will submit, for the information of
Government, the record referred to in paragraph 3 of your letter, showing that
Mohsin was informed that his brother Ahmed bin Saleh w r ould be detained
until the $6,020 which Mohsin had taken from the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. wdiich was wrecked
near Balahhaf had been paid, and to request, with reference to paragraph 2 of
this Department letter No. 7538, dated the 15th October 1902, and paragraph
19 of vour office letter No. 196, dated the 19th July 1902, and letter
No. 378, dated the 4th December 1902, that you will explain (1) why
you consider that the payment of $6,020 represented “ restitution in full
of the stolen property (2) how any promise of the kind you refer to could
have been given to Mohsin in view of the orders of Government and Brigadier-
General Maitland’s reply thereto; (3) why you consider that Government
should accept the statements made by Mohsin in spite of his letters at the time
to Sultan Ghalib and his then action as reported by 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. ; (4)
how vou reconcile Mohsin’s " complete ” submission -with his refusal to submit
to the arrangements at Balahaf made by the Sheikhs in 1894 and confirmed
by Government in 1895.
3.1 am at the same time to observe that the orders of the Government of
India on which this Department letter No. 7638, dated the 16th October 1902,
21
344FD