File 600/1905 Pt 2 'Aden Hinterland: Future Policy' [‎361v] (210/226)

other Powers in the region that may be given will, of course, tend to secure the
objects now under consideration, but so far as this Government is concerned it
is necessary to consider the situation simply on the basis above stated, viz., that
the Aden Protectorate is already full of arms, that the whole adult male popin
lation is by custom actually armed and that there is an easy source of supply
within reach at Jibouti and that there is no prospect of help from the autho
rities of that settlement.
5. I am briefly to refer to paragraphs 10—16 of the Resident’s letter of
October last, in which he discusses certain orders he had received from the Bom
bay Government in letter No. 2107, dated the 31st March 1905, and in regard to
that I am only to say that the paragraphs seem to have been written under a
misapprehension and* that as regards the provision of a supply of arms in Aden,
the Resident is in accord with the views expressed in the letter of March last
and that the Resident’s opinion on the suggestion which was made to him ia
paragraph 5 of the letter he discusses w ill be found in paragraph 17 of his letter
of October 1905. It is not^now a matter which calls for further discussion.
6. The various suggestions contained in the letters now forwarded are
very briefly : —
(1) Some general measure.of disarmament; discussed in paragraphs 18 and
20 of the letter of October last ;
(2) The possibility of registration of arms and the provision of a source of
supply which could compete with Jibouti but be under our own con
trol; discussed in paragraphs 12 to 16,19 and 21, of the letter of Octo
ber last and paragraph 25 of the letter of January ;
(3) The possibility of patrolling more efficiently the coast line of the Pro*
. tectorate; discussed in paragraphs 22, 23, 24 and 25 of the letter of
October and paragraphs 21 and 21 of tlie letter of January ;
(4) The possibility of establishing posts of observation on the littoral both
to the west and east of Aden ; referred to in paragraph 27 of the
v ’
letter of January ;
^ i r i
^ p" (5) The need and the inefficiency of the Sultan of Lahej’s assistance to us
in this matter ; referred to in paragraph 28 of the letter of January.
7. Taking these matters in turn, His Excellency the Governor in Council
considers that any idea of the disarmament of the tribes can at once be dismissed
as impracticable and as being entirely opposed, even if practicable, to what is
known of the wishes of the Secretary of State, for nothing in the shape of dis
armament can be carried out w ithout^assuming responsibility for administrative
measures in the Hinterland which it is understood is not in any way desired.
8. Turning to the second series of suggestions as to the desirability of
placing within the reach of the tribes a supply of arms under our own control
in Aden, this has already been placed before the Government of India in my
letter No. 1476, dated the 23rd Eebinary 1906. lire question of registration
will be dealt with in a letter in which I am to discuss certain amendments
proposed in the Arms Regulation.
9. Passing to the question of establishing a more efficient patrol by means
of dhows and light-draught steamers, I am to call attention to appendix 1)
to the Resident’s letter No. 265 of the 14th January 1906, which gives
roughly the estimate of cost so far as ascertained from an inspection of
records belonging to the Somaliland Protectorate. As to this, I am to say
that no doubt the provision of some such system of patrol would render
the direct importation of arms into the Protectorate a matter of greater
difficulty than at present and the provision of a light-draught-steam-boat or
fast motor-dhows would no doubt subserve many useful purposes between
Aden and Perim besides that of dealing with the arms traffic. It would,
for instance, facilitate the supervision of the pearl industry discussed in my letter
No. 7160, dattd the 6th November 1905, if it is intended to move in that matter.
It might he utilized to carry the Government mail between Aden and Perim
or Ras-al-Arrah and Perim and thereby dispense with the necessity of paying a
subsidy ior the conveyance of that mail, and it is obvious that a light steamer