ملف رقم ٦٠٠ لسنة ١٩٠٥ الجزء ٣ "المنطقة الداخلية لعدن: الوضع؛ انسحاب الوكيل السياسي من الضالع؛ معاهدات مع زعماء قبائل الحواشب والقُتيبي والعلوي" [و‎‎١‎٩‎٥] (٥٠٨/٣٨٥)

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sions to the Alawi Haushabi anr! TT f P 1 ?? 080 ^ g ran t of certain conces-
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No. 7601, dated Aden Residency, the 23rd December 1906.
Acting Political Resident,
From— -Major-General E. DeBrath, C.B C I E
Aden, '* '*
To-The Secretary to the Government of Bombay, Political Department.
xt 1 I ^Qg 0r JT^l’^°^ tbe i ? formation of Government, copy of a memorandum
No. 1398, dated 18th December 1906, and of its accompaniment, which I have
received from the Political Agent, Dthala, I have the honour to invite reference
to correspondence ending with my letter No. 7187, dated the 16th instant, and
to confarm the recommendations made therein for the early grant of certain
concessions to the Kotaibi Sheikh as well as to the Alawi and Haushabi Chiefs.
2. Meanwhile I concur with Major Jacob that no immediate notice need
be taken of Sheikh Muhammad Saleh’s present communication.
3. As to his suggestions regarding the rendition or the demolition of the
Suleik Fort, I attach, for the information of Government, extracts of certain
notes, which have recently been drafted by Major Jacob on the subject, but I
defer any definite proposals pending the receipt of further information regard
ing the actual date on which it is proposed that the Political Agent should be
withdrawn from Dthala.
No 1398, dated Dthala, the 18th December 1906.
From— Major H. F. Jacob, Political Agent, Dthala,
To—The First Assistant Resident, Aden.
I attach for the perusal of the Resident a curious “ Notice *’ to hand from
Muhammad Saleh, the Kotaibi Sheikh.
2. It is the result of news of our intended evacuation and the non-receipt
by this Sheikh of what he considers his dues, after our attempt rapprochement
which the pacification of the country demanded.
3. The letter at first sight reads like an open defiance and hints at what
the Kotaibis will feel bound to do when our backs are turned, i.e. x begin the
old game of taking their road dues. This was the origin of our trouble with
them.
I have not replied to the missive.
4. Suleik Fort, as I have already suggested, had better be razed to the
ground when we go, and the only remaining course is to tell the Amir that he
will be responsible to Government for the safety of the roads in his territories.
His line of action will be to make the Kotaibis responsible to him. He cannot
coerce them, and this sop to them will alone preserve their amour propre.
5. Looking at the matter from the Kotaibi Sheikh’s view-point, I cannot
but regret that he has not at an earlier date received some compensation for the
loss of road dues; and a stipend, long since recommended, would have served to
seal the friendship of this tribe and have tended to preserve peace on the road. \
The language now used by Muhammad Saleh is, of course, objectionable, but
knowing the man so well, I affirm it is more an appeal ad misericordiam than
anything else.
My advice is to let him severely alone. To reply is merely to lengthen
correspondence unnecessarily and will serve no purpose other than to lower our
dignity.
Before we go, I strongly again advocate that the Amir’s “ Darbar presents ”
should be used to defray the monthly recurring charge of Bs. 50, which will
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