File 600/1905 Pt 3 'Aden Hinterland: Situation; Withdrawal of Political Agent from Dthala; Treaties with Haushabi, Kotaibi and Alawi chiefs' [‎178v] (352/508)

Confidential.
Attach on the Britieh Post at Nohat Dakim by the Juheri clan of the
Subaihi tribe.
Letter No. 1150, dated the 25th February 1906.
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,
To-The Chief 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 my No. 1027, dated the 18th instant, I have the honour
to forward herewith copy of a letter Uich I have this week received from the
AbdaU Sultan in replfto the letter which
with the instructions conveyed in your letter No. 1134, dated the ath instant,
and of which I forwarded a copy with my letter above reterred to.
2. It appears that the Abdali Sultan is anxious to continue the tacimon
which I had hoped that the last communication _ addressed to him mi ht
terminate. The tone in which his present letter is couched is, I fear, not
likelv to commend itself to Government. The Sultan evmces an inclination
to exaggerate the value d,f his services and to ignore the benefits which e
receives from the development of the Settlement and Protectorate of Aden
Abdali interests have from the earliest days of our ^Hatci 0 the be m S ttf S tory
with ours, and the present Sultan has every reason to regard the past history
of our relations with gratitude.
3 . He evidently takes an opposite view of the case and in doing so ventures
to impugn our fidelity.
4. It was inevitable that in course of time the Abdali should cease to be
the Buffer State between the seat of the Paramount P ?wer and the who
the rest of the Protectorate, and I would suggest for consideration that the time
has now come for us to ourselves deal with the Subehi problem direct.
5 . The attached copy of a memorandum which I have this week drafted
on the subject will indicate the direction in which I would venture to suggest
that further action should be taken.
Letter dated the 20th February 1906.
From—S ultan Sir Ahmed Fadthl, the Abdali,
To—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.
We have received your letter No. 996, dated the 17th February 1906. In
reply we inform your honour, oh friend, that the treaty No. 35, dated the -
June 1839, had not been described in the subsequent treaties as being repealea,
such as the treaty dated the 7th March 1867 to which reference was made in
Article 3 of the Sheikh Othman treaty dated the 7th February ^ 1882. Ihe ao-
sence of facts indicating its abrogation is a strong proof of its being still m tore .
We do not know, however, what may have been reported to Government againsi
us which irritated it inasmuch as it said that the old treaty of many y e ay®
standing was rescinded while there was nothing in such treaty except _ that tne
hand of Government and our hand should be one against the mischievous
people, and in virtue of which the Government had on several occasions
supported our late father against the disaffected persons, which fact is
screened from you. We have never imagined that the Government wou
recompense us by such expression after the lapse of many years and long i
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