مجموعة ٢٨/١ "محمية عدن: لحج؛ المؤامرة على سلطان لحج ومسألة الاعتراف بابنه الأكبر كخليفة له" [و‎‎١‎٠] (٧٤/١٩)

P.z.2871/33.
1
Minute Paper.
POLITICAL
Department.
Please see the passages marked in the
A
Intelligence summaries regarding the election as heir
apparent and attempted assassination of the eldest son
of the Sultan of Lahej.
As explained in the Resident’s despatch of 22nd
March enclosed with the C.O. letter the custom for many
years pa.st in regard to the succession to the Sultanate
has been that after the death of the reigning Sultan
his successor is elected by certain tribal Aqils and
Q,adhis and later recognised officially by the Resident
(unless there are cogent reasons for non-recognition).
As the result of an unsuccessful conspiracy in
1930 to remove the Sultan and arrange the succession of
a member of a rival branch of the ruling family. His
*
Highness made tentative proposals to the Residency that he
should ensure continuity in the succession by
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proclaiming his eldest son as heir apparent, but was
advised by Sir Stewart Symes not to do so.
In February of this year, however. His Highness
informed Colonel Reilly that an election had been held
and that Sultan Fadl has been unanimously elected as his
successor. The Resident was about to express
objection to this action which was taken without
consulting him when he heard ol the attempt on Suloan
Fadl’s life which made it impolitic for him to do so.
He therefore confined himself to asking the Sultan ot
Lahej for an explanation of his reasons for departing
from customary practice in regard to the succession. His
Highness replied that the intention was to guard against
strife and dissension in the event of his death.
Colonel Reilly sympathises with the Sultan and sees
considerable advantage in a settlement of the succession
during/