File 600/1905 Pt 1 'Aden Hinterland: Treaty with Dthala' [‎431r] (123/174)

(6) A customs house near Kataba run on the same princinle of n w ,
nominsj ,h " A ' AU "
Sutt^Tttl r^!f tnTht
rV s ^, * “"■ l “
This irregular customs system close to the boundary is certain to he in
future, as it had been m the past, a fruitful source of^rS
The new Commercial Treaty under negotiation between Great BrS and
Turkey abolishes _ the present Turkish export duty. The conclusion of that
Treaty, if its provisions are enforced, will consequently mitigate the present
trouble m the matter of exports, but it would seem that ‘ retaliation,’ were such
a policy practicable, would be the only really effective check on the present
abuses of the Turkish customs along this frontier. present
oW* 3 ‘ ^ thG re ^ s bordering on the frontier, the Turks have no regular
system of revenue collection. The tithes are farmed out to some Sheikhs °who
recoup themselves by the aid of the moral or material support of the Turkish
C^ 1D g to t he abuses which take place between the tithe-farmers and
the Turkish authorities, the former are often obliged to requisition the assis
tance of the military to enforce the payments of tithes in excess of the regular
assessment. The result invariably is that prominent Turkish Sheikhs and
7?® ir followers se ek refuge on the British side from their exactions. It will be
difficult for the Arab Chief (Amiri, Haushabi, etc.) or the Political Officer to
find and hand over such refugees, while the Turkish authorities, who are not
accustomed to admit the shortcomings of their system, will most likely attribute
the flight of their subjects to intrigue from our side. The absence of an Extradi
tion Treaty with Turkey, as also the existence of the capitulations, must
necessarily complicate the treatment of the question of certain refugees and
delinquents on either side of the border.
The occurrence of such incidents along the Subaihi border is less likely,
as Turkish influence has only once or twice been directly asserted in the Yusuf-
yin, Kubati, Athwari, Humedi and Zureki countries, and it is only in the case
of the Hakmi, who are situated between Sheikh Said and Mokha and who are
under the control of the Turkish representatives at both places, that complaints,
etc., are to be anticipated.
4. Customs and such administrative incidents leading to local friction and
often to frivolous complaints by the Turkish Government have in the past,
at times, entailed prolonged and expensive telegraphic correspondence. Were
an experienced officer, well versed in the language and local conditions, Tur
kish and Arab, stationed near the frontier, he would undoubtedly be able to
ascertain the truth of any incidents arising along the border, and either arrange
the matter on the spot, or put our authorities in possession of the real facts of
the case, should reference to both Governments be eventually necessary. Ac
counts from Arabs are almost invariably coloured or exaggerated, and the Amir
of Dthala, who has had bitter experience in the past with the Turks, but has
during the last couple of years learnt what the tribal Arabs style “ the ways of
Government *’ is the only local Arab who, in a certain degree, might be trusfed
to deal with Turks and report on incidents occurring between his own, and
Turkish Arabs. The presence of a Political Officer would, however, I think,
he advisable even in his case.
5. A great deal would depend on the character and experience of the
Political Officer to whom the task would be entrusted. He should be a man
either well acquainted with, or capable of learning, Arabic and the idiosytfcracies
of Yemen Arabs. He should also be able, without interfering in purely tribal
matters, to acquire a strong personal influence which he could, when
necessary, exert towards the settlement of any questions arising between
the natives and his British escorts, or between the former and Turkish represen
tatives, He should, moreover, be prepared to hold the appointment for a
considerable period, as rapid changes would certainly be detrimental to the
influence" of the post itself.