File 600/1905 Pt 4 'Aden Hinterland: Proposed Treaties with the Sultans of Beda and Audali; Treaty with Beda held in abeyance' [‎244v] (120/158)

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stipend wbich shall he allotted in the fifth clause of the usual Protectorate
Treaty to the Beda Sultans and to the nature of the reward which shall be
accorded to the Padthli Sultan in the event of his proving himself capable of
rendering the desired assistance.
5. The stipend hitherto suggested for the Beda Sultans is 100 dollars per
month which is the amount of that paid to the Aulaki Sultan under the
t secret-, k, treaty * concluded with him in the year 1904,
This with the dollar taken at the rate of Es. 2 per dollar would allow of a
grant to each of the two Sultans Ali bin Ahmed and Alawi bin Husen of
Bs. 100 per mensem. But as it is clear from past correspondence that one of
the main causes of delay has been the desire of the subordinate Chiefs of Beda
to share in the profit accruing from the treaty and to derive as much personal
gain as possible from the transaction, it may prove desirable to grant the
Sultans a somewhat larger stipend than that originally proposed.
6. It will not be possible for me to obtain instructions in the matter from
Shugra, and with a view to the successful and rapid conclusion of the affair,
I would request that sanction may be accorded to me to, if necessary, raise the
proffered stipend to one of 150 or, if necessary, even 200 dollars per mensem.
7. The political advantages to be gained by the treaty may be held to be
worth the extra expense which however will be of course, if possible, avoided.
8. As to the reward to be civen to the Padthli Sultan, I understand from
vour telegram received to*dav that this cannot take the form of an enuanced
stipend, or rather that sanction thereto cannot be solicited from the Govern-
ment of India pending a full report on your letter, dated the 31st ultimo, which
will not of course reach me till next mail.
9. I would at the same time venture to here represent that Sultan ABmed
bin Husen, the Padthli, does not at present draw a stipend really proportionate
to his importance in the affairs of this Protectorate. I would remind Govern
ment that he is under treaty debarred from the collection of transit dues from
which his more fortunate neighbour the Abdali Sultan derives such substantial
profit, and I would recommend that if the Sultan now actually illustrates the
extent of his influenne to the north-east of the Protectorate, his importance
should be recognised by the grant of enhanced stipend which shall place him
more on a level'with his old rival the Abdali, and will also have the effect of
substituting a feeling of really loyal friendship for one of continued
discontent.
10. I would therefore recommend that his stipend should be raised to
one of three hundred dollars a month in the event of the proposed meeting
taking place with the desired effect.
11. To these proposals I would solicit the favour of necessary instructions
by telegram. If the treaty is concluded, as suggested at Shugra, all the trouble
and expense of a political mission to Beda will be avoided. And in the event ot
my present invitation to the Easasi Sultan not being accepted, it will then be
possible to again consider the desirability of such a mission.
12. In the event of its proving desirable to slightly postpone the date o*
the proposed meeting at Shugra, the necessary intimation will be conveyed by
telegram.
No. 578, 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 30th January 1906.
From—M ajor-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— Sultan Ali bin Ahmed, the Rasasi.
Jfter compliments .—We write, oh friend, to inform you
arrive at Shugra on the 15th of February (21st A1 Hijja 1323)
We hope that you will meet us there to sign the treaty ot friendship and alli-
anre of which we have written to you before. We can stay at Shugra for one
dav or possibly two days. And then we proceed straight to Ind.a to see His
Excellency the Governor. We hope that we shall be able to hand him the
that we shall
next exactly.