File 600/1905 Pt 2 'Aden Hinterland: Future Policy' [‎364r] (215/226)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
Printed for the use of the Foreign Office. March 1906.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(8614.)
Memorandum respecting the Aden
Frontier Delimitation.
WHEN in 18/3 the Turks, who had evacuated
the Yemen in 1633, reoecupied that province,
t he re were nine tribes in the Hinterland of Aden
with whom Her Majesty’s Government had direct
relations, and whom they considered to be more
oi less under their protection. These tribes are
the Abdali, the ladhli, the Akrabi, and the
Subaihi, which are the nearest to Aden; the
Haushabi, the Alawi, the Amiri the
subjects of the Amir of Dthali), the Yaffai,
and the Aulaki. These two last-named tribes
are each divided into two sections, the Upper and
Lower Yaffai and the Upper and Lower Aulaki.
The Turkish Government have contended that
the Sultan s sovereignty extended over these
tribes in virtue of the former occupation of
Yemen. We, on the other hand, have always
maintained that they were independent. In
addition to the Turkish claim of sovereignty,
there have, ever since 1873, been constant dis
putes also in regard to the frontiers between
these tribes and the territory' under the direct
administration of the Turkish authorities. Both
subjects have from time to time given rise to
discussions, sometimes of an acute nature, with
the Porte.
In 1873 it was proposed that the nine tribes
above named should be taken under British
protection. The proposal was not sanctioned;
but while the question was under consideration
at home, the Ptesident at Aden had, under
instructions from India, sent a British force to
support the Chief of Lahej (in the territory of
the Abdali tribe) against the Turks, who were
giving military assistance to a rebel against the
Chief. The Turkish Government endeavoured
to make a bargain that, as they had disclaimed
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