File 600/1905 Pt 3 'Aden Hinterland: Situation; Withdrawal of Political Agent from Dthala; Treaties with Haushabi, Kotaibi and Alawi chiefs' [‎212v] (420/508)

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because he found that my advice all along had been reasonable and the most
likelv to herald peace and good-will; that he had the greatest confidence in
mv friendship and had consistently refused to credit the reports lately spread
in this place that I was antagonistic to an Amm-Sham rapprochement.
Further that he carefully investigated my advice to the Shams and was §
convinced that both of us had been steering for one common goal, w
conciliation. « .
2. I congratulated Amir Shaif on the policy he had adopted and told him
that the credit for this ultimate step lay solely with him, and that I would
bring the same to the notice of Government through the 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. ; that it,
was preferable for him to determine the actual terms of the settlement himself
without any intervention on my part, as this was more in consonance with
the dignity of his position as Amir and in keeping with the scheme he had
just initiated. He pressed, however, for my presence, and so I have agreed.
3. The Amir is now intent on conciliating the Kotaibi tribesmen and
Muhammad Saleh, their Chief, in particular. He said that be and I would go
shortly to Suleik for this purpose.
4. He was averse, he said, to the entire withdrawal of our troops from
Dthala and his country. If, however, we were so determined, he advocated the
demolition of Suleik Port and the “ Dar-al-Hamra ” (alias “ Har-al-Qabtan ”),
for that otherwise disturbances would be rife there owing to “ Alawi-Kotaibi”
jealousies.
5. I asked him about the interlaced lands along the frontier. He
explained that not only in the vicinity of Sanah and Kataba but as far down
also as “ Ad Dakkam ” (Amiri) this state of affairs prevailed.
I should here say that the Kaim Makam of Kataba has lately addressed
me from Nadra that he is returning soon to Kataba and would then be glad to
meet me on the frontier to discuss the Amir’s complaints in re these inter
laced lands.
6. It appears to me that Amir Shaif is at last really solicitous to conciliate
his tribesmen. This policy has been evidenced rather late in the day, but has
now been given prominence owing, I believe, mainly to his recent humiliation
in the fight at the hands of the Shairis. Whatever the motive may have
h^en, the result cannot but be gratifying as working for peace and rest between
Dthala and the Turkish-Amiri border. It will facilitate materially our with
drawal from Dthala. In my opinion, we should wait a little longer to
witness the working of this latest denouement, and to see how the Amir will
arrange with the hillmen of Jabal Jihaf where the Sheikh Mukbil Nagi still
opposes the Amir’s claims. The Amir’s intentions here, too, I believe, are
pacific, and I believe some modus vivendi will be shortly reached. The Shams
and Jahal Jihafis were under compact jointly to oppose the Amir, but with
one party propitiated, and that the most unlikely one to have yielded to
suasion—I see no cause for pessimistic ideas any longer on Jahal Jihaf.
7. Other tracts, e.g.^ Ahmedi and Ad Dakkam should then also fall into
line. The key to the solution of the problem was the conciliation of the Shams,
and therefore, this has been my persistent aim since 1904.
8. We shall not now see the Amir the sole lord of the country. Demo
cratic ideas are too deeply embedded in the Arab’s social and political life to
allow such a result. One cannot expect to efface so quickly the ill-feeling
which, e.g., in the case of the Shairi-Amiri relations has been prevailing for 150
years. There will he, then, no great bonds of sympathy generated between
Amir and tribesman; at best, it will he “a transfusion of prejudices”. It
may be that friendly independence of the various parts will tend to distri
bute the burden of the Amir’s administration and will create a spirit of loyalty
throughout them all. Unwilling subjection to a “one man” authority is
an Utopian aim, and, if pursued, will checkmate our endeavours to secure
peace. " -
9. If the Kotaihi Chief can he persuaded to settle his differences with
the Amir, our stay here will not have been fruitless. For years before our
arrival the Amir has been in chronic difficulties with his tribesmen. I he