File 600/1905 Pt 3 'Aden Hinterland: Situation; Withdrawal of Political Agent from Dthala; Treaties with Haushabi, Kotaibi and Alawi chiefs' [‎51r] (97/508)

[ Secret. ]
No. 1718, dated Bombay Castle, the 9th March 1908.
From—H. O. Quin, Esq., 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—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
With reference to Captain O’Connor’s letter No. 520-E.B., dated the 8th
February 1908, I am directed to forward herewith, for the information of the
Government of India, a copy of a letter No. C.-110, dated the 29th idem, from
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. , Aden, and of its accompaniment, in regard to the
present condition of tribal affairs on the Aden-D’thala road.
2. I am to st?ite that any remarks which the Bombay Government may
desire to make on these papers will be submitted to the Government of India
hereafter.
No. C.-110, 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 29th February 1908.
From — Major-Geneeal E. DeBrath, C.B., C.I.E., 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—The 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.
With reference to correspondence ending with your Secret endorsement
No. 1122, dated 14th February 1908, regarding tribal affairs on the Aden-
D’thala road, I have the honour to submit the fo lowing report on the present
condition of affairs on that road for the information and the orders of
Government.
2. It will be remembered that prior to the recent withdrawal from D’thala
and other posts on the road, it was recommended that agreements should be
entered into with certain of the Chiefs which should afford some real guarantee
of security to the trade that follows that route. With that object certain
draft agreements were drawn up and proposals were submitted to render some
further assistance to the Kotaibi, Haushabi, and Alawi Chiefs, who, it was
considered, were not in a position satisfactorily to fulfil their obligations
without it. Existing agreements with the Abdali Sultan and the Amir of
D’thala were deemed sufficient so far as they were concerned.
3. At the same time it was recognised that our withdrawal was likely to
entail a recrudescence of hostilities between the Kotaibi and the Alawi tribe,
who bad for years past been at feud with one another and only temporarily
and partially restrained during our occupation of certain posts in the
Hinterland. And in order as far as possible to avoid this contingency, it was
arranged that certain posts on the road, which were built upon debateable
territory, such as the Dar-al-Qabtan and the Dar-al-Taiz, should be destroyed.
To this course both the Chiefs concerned agreed at a meeting conveued by the
Abdali Sultan at Lahej, in September last. And the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , D’thala,
wq^ a witness to the agreement.
4. Further, it will be remembered that upon our withdrawal from the
Suleik fort and at the last moment when the Kotaibi was actually completing
his part of this agreement, the Alawi Sheikh went back on his word, be h a yf d
with the greatest insolence and loss of self-control, and vigorously opposed the
demolition of the Dar-al-Qabtan. In the end Major Jacob narrowly escaped
being shot by one of the Alawi’s supporters, but the Dar was demolished and
the withdrawal completed without further incident.
5. The hurried manner of our withdrawal however had the effect of
giving all the Chiefs concerned, except the Abdali Sultan, an y^oJ erat ® d 1 . a
of their own importance and a false impression ^ of our attitude. And in
consequence the proposed agreements remained unsigned.
6. The situation has now so far changed that the agreements then contem-
plated are not entirely suitable. Hardly had the Alawi f ^ lb ‘
blown up than the Alawi Sheikh, notwithstanding the fact that he had actually
received cer t ain pecuniary assistance previously stipulated to enable him to
rebuild his dar in territory that was not debateable, re-occupied the site of t
6033 F. D.