File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎334r] (676/834)

— 79
To assure such necessary peace* the present treaty is, however,
wholly insufficient. To many minds the treaty was signed by the
Kathin Sultans as a last resort, solely to save themselves. It
contains no guarantees, and it is doubtful if the Kathiris in
general know of its existence.
Sultan Ghalib, the Kaiti Sultan, is prepared to undertake
any expenditure on the irrigation and roadmaking necessary for
the development of all the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hadhramaut. But until he is
assured of peace, it would be folly to commence the work.
Saye for the Kathiri Sultans themselves,_ their paid soldier-
slaves (Somalis), and a few pro-Turkish families, the townsfolk
of the Kathiri towns would welcome the development ot the
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. by permanent irrigation and communications, under a
settled and just government.
Once peace were assured, money remittances need no longer
beheld up. His Majesty’s Government could then proceed to
the task of helping and controlling Kathiri emigrants, by
addressing the Netherlands Government.
In conclusion, it should be remembered:—
(1) that the Kaiti Sultan is admittedly our ally ; that he has
always been faithful; that he is ready to spend his large fortune
on developing the whole country ; that Hadhramaut is not an
exclusively Arab country in the same sense as, for example, the
Hejaz ; and that Kaiti and Kathiri alike owe their fortunes to
British protection ;
(2) that in Hadhramaut an early and final settlement of
troubles can now easily be made ; that, if put off, adjustment will
become more and more difficult; that non-settlement will mean
further calls for British subsidies ; and, finally, that discontent m
Hadhramaut postulates discontent among the Arab communities
of Singapore, Hyderabad, and Java.
The sketch map opposite shows the location of tribes and
towns referred to in the text.
W. H. Lee- Warner.
Arab Bureau Note.
Since the above article was written, H.B.M. Consul, Batavia,
has reported (March 29, 1919) that the local authorities recently
issued confidential instructions that Arab immigrants from
Hadhramaut are to be refused admittance to Java on the ground
that they are usurers and, therefore, under the immigration laws,
may be refused as undesirables. The Netherlands Government
is to be asked to withdraw the restriction, as, if enforced, it would
be injurious alike to Kathiri and Kaiti interests.
H.B.M. Government has now issued orders for the removal
of the embargo on Kathiri remittances [June 8, 1919].