File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎18v] (45/834)

intimated that he will himself nominate a successor ; he has,
furthermore, drafted and circulated new treaties which, before
the conclusion of peace, all our proteges will be required to sign,
and which will place all the Hinterland of Aden under Turkish
control. Before I left Aden, in April last, the grandson was sent
forty rifles and ammunition and he was given special facilities
to get supplies by his own dhows from Aden. If we advance
ourselves from Aden, the future of the Fadli country is assured
to us and to our influence. The Arabs require an example and
will then flock to our standards.”
H.F.J.
Makalla Politics.
“ I he Sultan, SirGhalib, and his minister, Seyyid Husein ibn
Hamid, are pressing for assistance in money, arms and ammunition
to resist internal intrigue. This intrigue has gone on for many
years, and the chief actors are the Kathiri Sultans, who lack a
seaport. Their merchants carry on lucrative businesses in Java
and Singapore. They are full of enterprise, while the Sultan
is fond of ease and quiet and of keeping things in his own hands,
lor years the people—backed by the Seyyids—have intrigued
against the Sultan’s rule, and before the war they were in
communication with the Imam of Sana. Now that the Turks
are within our Protectorate, these, too, have incited the Kathiris,
and the famous Seyyid Abdul Rahman Ubeidillah, to rebel
against Sir Ghalib. Ghalib’s minister is the real ruler of his
master s domains and he wields considerable influence. So long
as he is on tour he can control the situation. His weapon is to
present liberal doles and stipends to the Kathiri rulers for distri
bution to the swarming masses of Seyyids who really control
Kathiri politics. When, however, the minister returns to
Makalla, intrigue breaks out afresh.
I do not think the Makalla Sultan is in danger of invasion,
i- alwa y s asserted that he has complete domination over
c f. intei ; land - this is not the case. Witness the ‘ Temple
Syndicate for exploiting minerals, coal, etc. This concession
had to _ be abandoned^ because of the stolid opposition of the
people inland, and this opposition was more than Sir Ghalib
con d overcome. Makalla is loyal to the core, and the moral
ettect of our monetary support is incontrovertible. He asks for
guns and would have his gunners trained in Aden. I think the
moral effect of this assistance will be far reaching The
machinations of the society called the ‘ Jamaiyat al-Hakk ’ were
anti-dynastic. Funds were to come to Hadramaut from Java
Singapore and, I believe, from India. Ghalib pooh-poohed the
power of this society, which was republican in form, Ld of late
rfmmerhd mX, 1 I T'd '™ 8 ° f ft Societ >'’ which 1 fancy is
simmering. Makalla is far removed from Turkish aggression or
interference ; but it is essential for us to keep up otr fnfluence
theie. sympathise, however, with Kathiri aspirations, which