File 600/1905 Pt 1 'Aden Hinterland: Treaty with Dthala' [‎379v] (20/174)

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T shall he o’lad if this matter can he settled at as early a date as can possibly
he arranged as I must meet Mahomed Saleh in the near future, and unless I
can offerVm the stipend X propose, I fear that serious trouble will sooner or
later arise along the whole of the lines of communication from Nobat Dakim
The only possible alternative to my suggestion that I can see is to be con
tinually prepared to send out a force to punish any tribes which may give
trouble^ on the trade routes. This, from every point of view, is extremely
undesirable until, at least, we have tried the effects of the policy which I now
propose.
Telegram, dat^d the 21st November 1901.
From— Bombay, Political, Mahableshwar,
To—Resident, Aden.
Your letter No. 193, dated the 5th November. Treaty should be signed
before Amir leaves Aden.
[Confidential.]
No. 343 M., dated Bombay Castle, the 25th November 1904.
From-C. H. A. Hill, Esq., C.I.E., Acting Secretary to the Government of
Bombay, Political Department,
To—The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Aden.
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum No. 193
fConfidential), dated the 5th November 19 4, forwarding copy of a letter No.
0.3—1901, dated the 29th October 1901, from Major W. Merewether, the
Political Officer, Dthala, on the subject of a treaty with the Amir of Dthala.
2. You have already been directed in my telegram dated the 21st liovem
her 1901, to sign the treaty ; and I am now to communicate the observations
which follow upon the report on the affairs of Dthala. Major Merewether s
full report has had the careful attention of the Governor ^ Oou^il. The
considerations urged by the Political Officer are in short that the Amir of
Dthala (i) is unworthy of trust, (ii) is unpopular with his people, (m) has no
means of giving effect to the treaty, and (iv) has evaded former treaty oh igar
tions Major Merewether further criticises the policy of the past and points to
the danger involved in what seems to him the mistake Government have made
in treating the Kotaibi as subordinate to the Amir of Dthala.
3. It should he explained to the Political Officer that the Amir is, whatever
his personal characteristic may be, the de facto head of the tnbesmen, subjec
and P dependencies ” of Dthala; and it is with him m that capacity and so^long
as he is recognised as such, that the British Go\ein ^
upon the treaty. Our obligations under the treaty hold so long ther}s
his to our satisfaction, and if he is unable, m spite of x • j 1 .
earnest co-operation with him, to fulfil them, or if he ceases ? 0 P? P no
tion in which Government deal with him, the Governor
longer be bound to pay the stipend. .
4. I am to request that you will impress strongly upon ^aj or emve er
the necessity for recognising the existing situation m Arabia. ^
Dthala like other Sheikhs, is the ruler recognised by his tribesmen . and
he recognised by us and treated by the Political Officer wit ue p
The Political Officer seems disposed, on the strength of mformation winch
appears to emanate always from the same unspecified quarter, ,
inference that the Amir is a man to be held at arms length and treated
with suspicion. On the contrary, it would be well if }> taking im fi , /
Major Merewether would deal with him direct, thus gaming is 00 . , ,
paving the way to the exercise of that personal influence whic is ess .
our position in the Protectorate. The Political Officer is of course q o.Ji.
to tap all sources of information, and the foregoing remarks app y o a
of all tribes, including Mahomed Saleh of the Kotaibi, with all o ^ 0 ,
important that the dealings should be direct and personal. Major e ,
seems indeed to have taken great pains to acquaint himself wit p