File 600/1905 Pt 5 'Aden Hinterland: Treaty with Sultan of Balahaf' [‎162r] (107/152)

MEMORANDUM.
The Resident iinterviewed all the Sultans, Suyids and Sheikhs of the
Wahidi now in Aden as per accompanying list, at the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. this morning.
He first saw the two Sultans of Balahaf—Sultan Mohsinhin Saleh and Sul
tan Saleh bin Abdulla. He said that he hoped that they would soon come to an
amicable settlement in the matter of the distribution of their shares in Balahaf.
The Sultans said that they had not yet done so and that a final settlement would
still probably take some time. The Resident advised them to settle the matter
as soon as possible.
Both Sultans admitted that there were at the present moment three Sultans
of the Wahidi. They admitted the independence of the Sultan of Bir Ali, and
they admitted that Sultan Nasir bin Saleh of Habban was at Habban and in
receipt of certain transit dues there. Sultan Mohsin asserted that this Sultan
of Habhan was there only with his wull and consent, and that he was really a
man of no consequence.
The Sultan of Bir Ali was then invited to attend the interview, and he
confirmed the above and alleged his owm independence.
The Resident then proceeded to another room where he interviewed the
rest of the Sultans’ relatives, and the Sayids and Sheikhs of the tribes assem
bled.
They were unanimous in their support of Mohsin as the ttihal Sultan of
Balahaf and its dependencies, in which they included Azzan and practically Hab
ban, though they admitted the existence of Sultan Nasir bin Saleh at Habban.
They admitted the independence of Bir Ali. They said that Mohsin was the
only tribal Sultan whom they would recognise as their chief, and that they
would net recognise Sultan Saleh bin Abdulla whom they regarded as not fit for
such a position.
They said that they w T ould always abide loyally by their selection of Mohsin
and fight for him. They said that they would willingly sign a document to this
effect.
They expressed themselves as strongly opposed to any alienation of territoiy
to the Kayti, and said that they would resist such a measure to the utmost.
The Eesident then returned to the Sultans and had separate interviews with
Sultan Saleh bin Abdulla and Sultan Mohsin bin Saleh. He reminded Sultan Saleh
bin Abdulla of the fact thatonly a few years ago he had himself expressed his
willinoness to the election of Mohsin as titular Sultan. He pointed out to him
that he had since then further proved himself incapable of exercising any real
control in the Wahidi country. And he pointed out that Ins recent transaction
with the Kayti ipso facto proved his abandonment of claims to the Sultanate.
Sultan Saleh replied by insisting upon his own loyalty and friendship to the
British Government remarking upon the fact that he remained loyal at the
time when Mohsin was intriguing with the French and lurks and committing
misdeeds on the shores of Balahaf. To this the reply was given that he was
not the only signatory of the treaty of 1895 winch other members of the family
had also signed ; Mohsin alone being excluded on account of the ^demean
ours of which he then proved himself guilty. Sudan Saleh claimed that it w,.
his personal influence over the other members ot the ^ br<
the treaty, to which it was replied that this was a f ouh * fnl r ‘7’ " nd •
had never in any wav proved that he had ary real influence at all either at
Balahaf or elsewhere J the Wahidi com dry He said that m had supporters
and evidence that he could produce, to which the reply was given that he had
been given time and opportunity to produce them ai.d that no fuither delay
seemed under the circumstances justifiable.
Finally the Resident advised Sultan Saleh bin Abdulla to come to an un
derstanding with Mohsin and his other relations.
17
481ED