File 600/1905 Pt 3 'Aden Hinterland: Situation; Withdrawal of Political Agent from Dthala; Treaties with Haushabi, Kotaibi and Alawi chiefs' [‎209v] (414/508)

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our presence and possible assistance to overawe such recalcritrant tribesmen,
and himself goes not one step to meet them and arrange a basis for peace.
14. The Turks have fully grasped the lie of the lond and Arab predilections
for administration. Our respective conditions are as opposed as the poles.
There the country is administered by Turks as it is in British India. There
are no independent States or Chiefs. The Sheikships are changed yearly and (
the revenues farmed out to the highest bidder. No one Arab Sheik has
superior rights over another, but each tribe has direct relations with the
Turkish heads, 6.< 7 ., Kaimmakams and Mutassarif.
We have no central controlling administration, but are only supervisors of
the various Chiefs. All these have democratic tendencies and object strongly
to our system of creating one central head, such as Amir Shaif of Dthala, and
expecting all and sundry to bow beneath him. “We are not chiidren of the
Amir hut children of the British Government ” is a saying oft in the mouths
of the Shairis, Jabal Jihafis, Azrakis and Radfan.
Government may kindly consider my remarks in the light of what Upper
Yafa reveals. There are some 360 Sultans in Upper Yafa. There is no one
or even to commanding figures who can compel obedience of any but a com
paratively trifling following. Arabs will not trust Arabs. “ Kullan Sheik
Biladihi,” i.e., “ everyone is a Sheik of his own country ” which often means
“of his village,” while above all towers the “ Daula ” or British Government.
15. This is, then, the crux, and we must face it as best we can. We seem
obliged to adhere to our policy of isolation and non interference in Arab
affairs, and must continue to recognise but a minimum of heads with whom
to deal. The fact remains that the Arab mind is not educated to this system,
nor ever will be, unless the Arab nature is reconstituted. Ergo, we must
expect fits of tribal restlessness, and the pendulum will swing between alternate
action to interfere (when patience is exhausted) and the sequelae of a restricted
supervision.
16. A separate minute on Amiri relation on the Dthala plateau is
attached.
Dthala. ;
The 22nd January 1907
.}
H. E. JACOB, Major,
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. , Dthala.
Z/s
Telegram No. S.-St, dated the 16th February 1907.
From.—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department,
Calcutta,
To—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.
Tour letter No. 1077, dated 7th February. Withdrawal of 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.
from Dthala. It does not appear that 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. is in any danger, and
as whole question of future management of frontier and tribes will require
very careful consideration, Government of India, as at present advised would
prefer, unless the Bombay Government see any special objection, that he
should remain for the present at Dthala until a scheme is worked out.
No. 1331, dated Bombay Castle, the 2 nd March 1907.
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 your telegram No. S.-84, dated the 16th February 1907,
I am directed to forward herewith, for the information of the Government of
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