File 600/1905 Pt 2 'Aden Hinterland: Future Policy' [‎283r] (53/226)

No. 119 of 1906.
o
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.
SECRET.
External.
To
The Right Hon’ble JOHN MORLEY, O.M.,
Eis Majesty's Secretary of State for India,
. Simla, the 9th August 1906.
Sir,
In your Secret despatch No. 20, dated the 4th May 1906, you acquaint
ed us with the views of His Majesty’s Government on the main questions
arising in connection with the tribes of the Aden Hinterland and you intimated
to us the methods by which effect should be given to those views. In your
telegram of the 19th June permission was given to us to express our opinion on
points of detail involved in carrying out the policy so laid down and on any
questions affecting the administration of Aden. Of this permission we now
(1) Letter 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. , Poli- Venture to avail OUrselVCS J and at the
June ? 9 o(h N °' 2413 E - B '’ dated the 12th same time we forward a copy of the
( 2 ) Letter from the Government of BomW, marginally noted correspondence with the
Political Department, No. 4967, dated the i 3 th 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. and the Resident
July 1906, and enclosure. at Aden On the Subject.
2. The^ propositions advanced in your despatch are that the demarcation
of the frontier has pot affected our policy as regards the tribes in the Hinter
land, and that there is no desire to interfere with the internal and domestic
affairs of those tribes, though the interference of any other Power with them
will not be tolerated. You add as a further explanation of the policy which
should be pursued that, while the strength of Aden must always be a standing
object in national policy, that strength will obviously be impaired by quarrels
with the tribes, intervention in their disputes, multiplication of agreements with
them, the location of troops far from the fortifications of Aden, or an excessive
readiness to resort to expeditions out of proportion to any advantage to be gained
by them. You conclude that trespasses across the Turkish frontier should not
he exaggerated and should be dealt with, if necessary, at Constantinople; that,
save in a small strip immediately adjoining British territory, internal disturbances
should be disregarded and no step taken without your express sanction that might
lead to military or political entanglements; neither a railway to D’thala no'r a
cantonment or sanatorium there should be contemplated; the troops now at
D’thala should retire, leaving only a small escort for 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. , who