File 600/1905 Pt 2 'Aden Hinterland: Future Policy' [‎348r] (183/226)

Memorandum dated the 3rd February 1906 by Major H. F. Jacob
Political Officer, Dthala.
Proposals hitherto before Government have related, I believe, exclusively
to the policing and patrolling of the newly demarcated Turkish border. This
Government have not approved. My own views accord entirely. By reason of
the interests common to both parties in places across their several borders,
there are bound not infrequently to be cases of petty annoyance. 1 refer
K As Salamh^AmSr “ m ^ Viciaity of Kataba ( Turkish )
The Amir of Dthala has by Treaty stipulated to protect his pillars, and the
creation of Levies to secure this end appears superfluous. If after reasonable
trial he be found wanting, the Amir’s protective arrangements may be discussed
afnd replaced by sounder methods. As to watching those limited borders I am
of opinion that time is the best agent to educate the Arabs on both sides the
border in the distinctions of meum and tuum, and that if the Political
Officer lived at Sanah (Amiri), through which place in times of peace pass
some of Yemen s richest caravans, not alone would encroachments tend to
decrease of potential grounds for complaint fail germinate, but also we should
that entente and good-will on the frontier whereby trade would be facilitated
and the “ pari passu ” pacification of the more turbulent and but little known
of the cis-frontier tribesmen on the North-East boundary would be a foregone
conclusion.
To sum up : Place the Political Officer at Sanah (10 miles from Dthala);
insist he shall know both Arabic and Turkish—Many of the Turkish Civilians
are exiles from whom and could I but talk Turkish, learnt at Istambul, my
influence across the border would be incalculable. Again, the Political Officer
should prelerably be single and he expected to make an indefinite stay in the
Hinterland where changes of personnel give a set-back in every quarter.
Another and ancillary factor that will work silently but powerfully for rest
on the border is the recently authorised Arab Hospital. Both on humane and
also on political grounds the invaluable lesson to be learnt by Subehi marauders
and Arabs generally, were it known that misdemeanours on the trade routes,
whatever their origin, affected us both equally ; and that the British Govern
ment, in this early period of their forward and pioneer policy inland, must be
quick to perceive the importance, plus attendant economy, of combination to
further a community of interests. He dwelt on the possibilities of our
predicament in the event of an assault on Aden by sea, when, cut off from sea
borne supplies, we became dependant solely on the products from Inland. He
asked how it was possible to guarantee a continuous supply from this source
go long as trade was not sedulously promoted now in times of peace ; that the
forwardness of the Subehis and the perpetual apprehension of disturbance
from this quarter made his, and other peacefully disposed, people shrink from
agricultural pursuits to the extent the country was able to offer if perfect
security were the order of the day. Let the co-operation be however small, but
co-operation and the co-operative spirit was a desideratum.
I relate this conversation, for it will prove of interest to Government and is
illustrative, furthermore, of the principle I have so strongly urged Government
to adopt in the matter of Tribal Levies along the present main trade route to
Dthala. Let us take the tribes into our confidence, and we may remove our
more expensive posts on the line of communications.
Said Sir Ahmad “ I am, with you, the executive part of Government.” I
am very sure this is a sentiment we cannot too strongly encourage. Our
interests are identical with his. It is better to work the many through the
medium of a few, and this policy is feasible where we have a ruler of the
calibre of the Abdali Sultan. His influence extends throughout the Hinter
land. He has marriage ties with Upper Yafa. By the liberality of his presents
to all and sundry he has earned the style among the Arabs of “ our father,”
and is consulted wherever our influence is now in process of extension and yet
still further. Where we have means of Government so economic and easily
negotiable, it is surely wiser to co-operate than to take up the reins and drive
qon 2011—2