File 600/1905 Pt 3 'Aden Hinterland: Situation; Withdrawal of Political Agent from Dthala; Treaties with Haushabi, Kotaibi and Alawi chiefs' [‎127v] (250/508)

2
Leading Shairi Akils told me tliis morning that, if the Imam s troops
entered our limits, they would be the foremost to attack them.
Personally I do not believe that the Imam will interfere with us. It is a
pitv none the less that we hold aloof from him. This action of ours^ will be
read by him as signifying sympathy with the Turks. lie will not see in it our
strict impartiality.
###****
: | fk 1-
fi
No. 150-P., dated Bombay Castle, the 5th August 1907 (Secret).
From—II. O. Quin, Esq., Acting Secretary 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.
I am directed to invite a reference to the letter No. 4198, dated the 20th
July 1907, from the Political Eesident, Aden, on the subject of the conclusion
of agreements with certain Arab Chiefs prior to the departure of the Political
Agent from Dthala, a copy of which has been forwarded direct to the Govern
ment of India by the Political President.
2. I am to state that the Governor in Council concurs generally in the
opinion of the Political Eesident as to the desirability of concluding agree
ments with the tribes in question, and is of opinion that the agreements as at
first submitted by the Political Eesident may be approved with certain
modifications.
In Article 7 of the agreements the modification suggested by Captain
Hancock in his note of 19th July 1907, a copy of which accompanied the
Political Eesident’s letter No. 4198, dated the 20th idem, is an improvment, but
the words “may be given” should be substituted for the words “shall be
given” in that Article. The words “ and allies ” should, it is thought, be
omitted from Article 7 of the Kotaibi Agreement as they are held to be under
the suzerainty of the Amir of Dthala. After the words “ undertakings and
engagements ” the words “being faithfully and fully carried out” might be
inserted in Article 8.
With a view to maintain the suzerainty of the Amir of Dthala over the
Kotaibi while laying no great obligation on the tribe, it appears to the Govern
ment of Bombay desirable that in the agreement with that tribe Article 9
should read as follows :—
“ 9. The payment aforesaid shall be made to us through the Amir of
Dthala to whom we are still under obedience in accordance with the agreement
of 15th November 1888”.
It seems to the Governor in Council inadvisable to bind the Kotaibi to
fight in the Amir’s quarrels.
3. As regards the destruction of the fort at Dar-al-Quabtan, I am to
invite a reference to the telegram from the Political Eesident, Aden, dated the
13th July 1907, which was repeated to the Government of India with my
telegram, dated the 16th idem. The Dar will apparently be destroyed at the
time of concluding the agreement, and the Alawi present should not be given
until the Dar has been destroyed. It would seem desirable however to insert
in Article 9 of the Alawi Agreement before the words “ to erect ” the words
“ to destroy the post at Dar-al-Quabtan and ”.
4. The Governor in Council concurs in the opinion of the Political
Eesident that Suleik fort should not be destroyed till 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.
and his escort have been withdrawn from Dthala and are on their way to
Nobat Dakim.
5. I am to forward copies of the agreements in the form in which the
Governor in Council is of opinion they should be approved, and to request that
the Government of India may be moved to accord early sanction to their
being concluded with the tribes concerned. 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. will be
instructed to leave Dtliala within one month of the receipt by him of the
orders of the Government of India relating to these agreements and presents.