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File 600/1905 Pt 2 'Aden Hinterland: Future Policy' [‎297r] (81/226)

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The record is made up of 1 item (113 folios). It was created in 11 Dec 1905-5 Oct 1906. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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addressed some of our Chiefs and their attitude is as yet uncertain. Those best
able to gauge local feeling correctly are not prepared to endorse the opinion
that the Arab Sunni and Shiah are hopelessly irreconcilable. It must be
recollected that the whole of Yemen up to the port of Aden was once ruled bv
the Imam, and that some of the present Chiefs within our sphere are
descendants from Viceroys of the Imams of Yemen.
(iv) In regard to the effect of our withdrawal on our ability to restrict
the illicit traffic in arms and ammunition, there is no doubt that with a
recrudescence of disorder will spring up an increased demand for cheap arms
If we are not on the spot, we shall be unable to watch it or check its develop
ment, and we shall he in even a worse position than we are now to prevent
the re-exportation of arms to Somaliland and elsewhere.
7. So much for the political side of the question. Erom a military point
of view, our withdrawal from Dthala must he regarded as wholly disadvant
ageous. The station of Aden tends to become more and more crowded year bv
year notwithstanding our efforts to prevent it. The Isthmus barracks have
been abandoned on account of their unhealthiness, and those at the Crater
should be given up for the same reason. The climate and surrounding are such
that no military training is possible, while opportunities for recreation are
almost non-existent. The British troops there are simply rotting, Dthala on
the other hand has a goodTclimate and is exceptionally healthy, the men can be
worked there all the year round, and their presence is acceptable not onlv to
the Amir but to his people. We shall shortly be able to draw the supplies
required for the troops largely from the country itself, with corresponding
benent to the people of Dthala and with economy to ourselves. I should like to
see the regiment of Native troops now there withdrawn, and replaced bv two
companies of British troops. This would have the effect of reducing the
garrison by six companies and at the same time would enable us to withdraw
all British troops from the Crater.
8 . In conclusion I venture to deprecate any multiplication of our respon
sibilities and any interference in tribal affairs in the Hinterland. But our
presence there has, so far, been productive of nothing but good to the Chiefs
and tribes under our protection, and this being so, having put our hand to the
plough we should not turn back.

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Content

Part 2 of the file relates to future policy questions, in particular Britain's presence in the Dthala [al-Ḍāli‘] (sometimes written as Dthali) region.

The correspondents include:

The correspondence discusses several matters relating to British policy in the Aden hinterland, including:

  • the murder of a postal runner near Sheikh Othman;
  • the deployment of a Political Officer at Dthala;
  • the withdrawal of all British troops and officers from Dthala;
  • arms traffic in the hinterland;
  • an extension of the railway into the hinterland.

The discussion is framed by the wider imperial policy of non-interference.

Folio 369 is a map entitled 'The Tribes and New Boundary of the Aden Protectorate'.

Extent and format
1 item (113 folios)
Written in
English in Latin script
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File 600/1905 Pt 2 'Aden Hinterland: Future Policy' [‎297r] (81/226), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/74/2, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100034189576.0x0000c7> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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