ملف رقم ٦٠٠ لسنة ١٩٠٥ الجزء ٣ "المنطقة الداخلية لعدن: الوضع؛ انسحاب الوكيل السياسي من الضالع؛ معاهدات مع زعماء قبائل الحواشب والقُتيبي والعلوي" [و‎‎١‎٧‎٧] (٥٠٨/٣٤٩)

3
WQt7 P; \ Gm Government that I have no intention or desire to in anv
way interfere w^h the interna 1 and domestic affairs of the tribes where thl
can be avoided and that the measures which I have proposed are in m y opinion
such as would, m the end, prove the most effective. ^ e ^ my opinion
44 of Captain Hancock’s memorandum of the 22nd
e ruary last, there is a reference to the net result of more than 20 years’ ex-
Pf proposals which were made by Colonel Merewether hi 1865,
nd accepted only alter considerable correspondence and demur by His
r. Government. And it is certain that at no time in the history of this
Protectorate was there less trouble m the general conduct of political affairs.,
than during the activity of the Aden troop, as originally constituted, and while
the principles enunciated by Colonel Merewether were observed.
15 ; It is since the alterations in the constitution of the Aden troop were
made m the year 1891, and since the Political Resident has been vested with
a less liberal discretion m regard to the conduct of local affairs, that there has
been a gradual relapse to less favourable conditions. I believe that the time
has now arrived when the resumption of a firmer policy is essential, not onlv to
the successful conduct of political affairs in the hinterland itself, but also to
the welfare of the main settlement of Aden. Whether we like it or not we
shall sooner or later be forced to adopt such a policy.
16. It is difficult for Government to realise the intense interest with which
our present policy is being observed in the hinterland of this Protectorate, or
the actual effect ol such events as the long immunity of the murderer of the late
Captain Warneford, and also of the petty tribe which so insolently robbed His
Majesty’s mail last spring.
The Abdali Sultan has more than once asked me why we do not punish |
offenders, and has offered pointed remarks on the manner in which we treat
well and ill-behaved alke. He lias protested his inability to effectively punish !
the Subehis without our assistance, and has more than Once asked me to support j
him with the Aden troop, on the ground that he is acting, or desires to act, in j
the interest of Government. I have rejrained from acceding to his request as !
I am aware that proposals of this nature are not likely to be welcomed by His
Majesty’s Government at the present time, but such assistance cannot be in
definitely postponed, and the result of withholding it may be seen in the
abortive expedition described in paragraph 10 above.
17. The tribesmen and their Chiefs of course see that, where formerly
prompt action would have been taken by the Aden troop, either with or with
out the co-operation of friendly neighbours, there is now delay and of late
practically no action at all. And so long as the Political Resident continues
unable to exercise bis own immediate discretion in regard to the measures
which are needed to repress petty cases of disorder that from time to time arise,
and for the present must continue to arise, there is little doubt that there will
certainly be no decrease in the number of these unpleasent incidents.
18. I would here state that the area affected by the above remarks is
limited, and there are portions of this Protectorate where any sort of interven
tion continues at present quite unnecessary. The area affected however is more
considerable than what is known on the Somali Coast as the ten-mile limit, and
includes the greater part of the western portion of the Protectorate which is
traversed by the main trade routes entering Aden from Ottoman territories. To
the north and east there is no present necessity for intervention. The Fadthli
Sultan, who was formerly our most tiresome enemy, is now a peaceable neigh
bour, and though disputes between him and the Lower Yaffai may again arise
to give cause to some unrest, it is not probable that this will be of a nature to
seriously affect Aden,