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File 37/1905 Pt 4 'Aden Frontier Delimitation' [‎88v] (185/1197)

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The record is made up of 1 file (596 folios). It was created in 1904. It was written in English, Arabic and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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nountrv is more inaccessible than the Subaihi, but I am of opinion that if
to accept thcdemarcauon of their frontier without any senous opposition.
9 Mr Fitzmaurice, with whom I have discussed the question considers
that ihe n^rth e^st Hue should pass from Lakniat-ash-Shub to the desert,
whL includes in our side the Yaffai dependencies of ^ube aten Nawa Juban
Dethabiani, Beda, and Upper Aulaki, including *
^ai''h^on°their^i!orthern , frcmtier^roper r owlng to the"places I have mentioned
o„, X r «^i.-- rE ^
. - lu gram^ of 14th July 1904 to the Secretary
of State for India. Mr. Pitzmaurice further gives me as his opinion that—“It
would appear that the difficulty or ease of the north-east demarcation depend to
a great extent on the result of the negoiations now proceeding at Constantinople.
It might he advisable to postpone the final decision of the question of the
north-east demarcation till those negotiations have been brought to a conclu
sion. The present frame of mind of the Yaffai tribesmen is rather one of
suspicion as to the intentions of Government, than one of actual hostility.
They were like most hill tribesmen fanatically independent. It is now cl^e
on two years since they have been brought into direct contact with us, and the
uncertainty of our attitude towards them has engendered in their minds a not
unnatural suspicion that we may have designs of interfering with their
independence. The head Sheikhs or principal Chiefs may understand that is
not the case, but the majority of the tribesmen are unacquainted with the
methods of Government, careful dealing may dispel these suspicions; while by
proceeding along the northern border of Rube’aten, Nawa, Juban, &c., direct
contact and the consequent possibility of friction with these tribesmen will be
avoided”.
3. In conclusion, in my opinion, it would, however, be necessary before
any demarcation work was commenced to have a large force of troops ready
to show that the Government would be prepared to overcome any opposition
offered by the tribes. I consider, however, that a great deal more may be
effected by the use of proper judgment and tact than by the employment of
force.
4. I attach a letter from a Chief of much inffuence in the Yaffai tribe,
by name Sheikh Ali Mohsin, Askar, to Mr. Fitzmaurice. It will be seen from
the tone of the letter that they were apparently under the impression the
demarcation to the north-east was to be proceeded with. However, there is
one point to be remembered that many of the Chiefs and Sheikhs have no
effective control for good over many of their followers, though they always seem
to control them perfectly for purposes of mischief.
Dated the 5th August 1904 (24th Jumad Awal).
From —Sheikh Alt Mohsin, Askar,
To—G. H. Fitzmauricb, Esq., C.M.G., British Commissioner, Aden Boundary
Commission.
After Compliments .—We enquire after your health, and hope that you are
always glad and happy. We are in good health. We are very sorry for your
and Colonel Wahab’s absence. We were informed that Colonel Wahab
proceeded to India, and we do not know, oh friend, whether he will return, and
whether we shall see him or not. We regret your absence, you know us, and
are acquainted with our efforts to serve Government ; be they good a plan.
You know and we also know that every representative of Government, when
transferred from our country to another, is practically Iransferred from state of
life to death. Oh friend ! we have often written to Colonel Wahab that we have
entrusted to your conscience to bring our services to the notices of Government,
&c., &c.
ri
H

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Content

This file contains correspondence and documents related to the work of the Aden Boundary Commission, the British Government body tasked with the delineation of the borders of the British Protectorate of Aden. Much of the correspondence in the file relates specifically to the Subaihi border region.

The file contains a number of letters from Colonel Robert Alexander Wahab, the Commissioner of the Aden Boundary Commission, sent to the Political and Secret Department of the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. in London (and the British Political 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. in Aden). The file also contains extracts from Wahab's diary related to his work on the commission.

The file contains a detailed report on the demarcation of the frontier entitled: 'Report on the Demarcation of the Frontier between the Tribes in the Protectorate of Aden and the Turkish Province of Yemen; by Major-General P. J. Maitland, C.B., 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' (folios 25-44).

The file contains a number of maps as follows:

  • a printed map of the Sheikh Sa'id Peninsula (folio 94);
  • a printed map of the border region of the British protectorate of Aden (folio 112);
  • a printed map entitled 'Map of Haushabi and Subaihi Border' with list of place names in English and Arabic (folio 237);
  • a printed map of the Sheikh Sa'id Peninsula (folio 239);
  • a hand-drawn entitled 'Map Illustrating Southern Subaihi Frontier Proposals Referred to in Sir N O'Conor's Telegram No. 112' (folio 288);
  • a printed sketch-map entitled 'Aden Boundary Commission Survey Sketch Accompanying No. 19 of 15th March 1904' (folio 291);
  • a printed sketch entitled 'Aden Boundary Commission Survey Sketch Accompanying No. 21 of 15th March 1904' (folio 456);
  • a printed map entitled 'Aden Frontier Survey, Subaihi Boundary in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ma'din' (folio 457).

The file also contains correspondence related to French claims of ownership over Sheikh Said (Cheikh Said), a peninsula near the island of Perim on the Mandeb Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea. The file contains original copies of articles on this topic that were printed in the French newspaper La Dépêche Coloniale in September and October 1904 .

The majority of the correspondence in the file is in English, but also enclosed is a limited amount of correspondence from the Ottoman Ambassador in London that is in French.

The volume includes a divider which gives the year that the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in it arranged by year. This divider is placed at the front of the volume.

Extent and format
1 file (596 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

The Subject 37 (Aden) contains 5 files, IOR/L/PS/10/63-67.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation commences at the inside front cover and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English, Arabic and French in Latin and Arabic script
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File 37/1905 Pt 4 'Aden Frontier Delimitation' [‎88v] (185/1197), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/66, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100027010726.0x0000ba> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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