Hutt – Imperial treaty After the Sith Empire ' s return to the known galaxy during the Great Galactic War , Imperial representatives from the Ministry of Intelligence brokered a treaty with the powerful Hutt Cartel . The agreement stipulated that , as the Empire grew in power and territory over the course of the Great Galactic War and the subsequent Cold War , the Hutts would be allowed to maintain their sovereignty and neutrality , provided neither they nor any inferior clans or subsidiaries worked to further the interests of the Galactic Republic — the Empire ' s primary nemesis in the wars . The treaty benefited both parties until around 3643 BBY , when three Hutt families violated its terms and worked alongside Republic researchers on the planet Quesh to manufacture adrenal stimulants . The Empire discovered the operation and forced the Cartel to label the three families as traitors and join the Sith in an assault on Quesh . Terms . The treaty between the Sith Empire and the Hutt Cartel created an officially - recognized status of neutrality between the Imperial government and the Cartel during the Great Galactic War and the following Cold War . The document stipulated that the Hutts ' criminal enterprises would be allowed to remain autonomous , given that the individual clans and subsidiaries also remained neutral . In the event that the treaty was violated and Hutt agents cooperated with the interests of the Empire ' s adversary , the Galactic Republic , the Sith were authorized to exert control over the Cartel and force the organization ' s leaders to name the specific violators as traitors . History . In 3681 BBY , the Great Galactic War was initiated and exploded across the Outer Rim Territories following the Sith Empire ' s return to known space . For years prior , the Sith had been conspiring against their age - old enemies in the Galactic Republic and Jedi Order by acquiring power and territory in the galaxy ' s Unknown Regions and growing their mighty war machine . Simultaneously , Imperial agents worked to corrupt planetary governments in the Tingel Arm , buy the allegiance of localized crime bosses and warlords , and insert covert operatives into the Republic bureaucracy and Jedi ranks . When the war erupted and the Sith made their presence in the galaxy known , both they and the Republic sought to curry the favor of underworld criminal organizations , particularly the Hutt Cartel . Despite the Cartel ' s consistent disregard for Republic law , the Hutts chose not to support the Empire , as they were upset that the Sith Emperor had decided not to include them in his pre - war plans . Although the situation could have provided the Republic with an opportunity to form an alliance with the Cartel , agents of the Empire ' s Ministry of Intelligence managed to prevent such a scenario from happening by setting up a system of mutual neutrality between the Imperial government and the Hutts . The resulting treaty between the two parties allowed for the Cartel to remain neutral through the end of the Great Galactic War in 3653 BBY and beyond , into the Cold War . Around 3643 BBY , three Hutt families violated the terms of the treaty and agreed to assist Republic scientists on the planet Quesh in their attempts to synthesize adrenal stimulants for the Republic Military . Upon learning of the violation , the Sith Empire forced the Cartel to brand the three families as traitors and join in an attack on Quesh to root out the Republic agents and seize the world ' s rich chemical resources . Kel Dor Jedi historian Gnost - Dural later included a mention of the Ministry of Intelligence ' s accord with the Hutts in his efforts to chronicle the Great Galactic War . Reception . The Hutt – Imperial treaty was widely obeyed by both parties through the Great Galactic War . Even in light of the Hutts ' resentment of the Sith Emperor , they made no significant move to assist the enemy ' s forces , despite the overtures of Republic agents . The promise of sovereignty kept the Cartel ' s constituent clans in line until the Cold War , when Republic researchers were able to sway three Kajidics to violate the terms in return for a cut of the profits from adrenal stimulants produced on Quesh , a world within Hutt Space . The rest of the Cartel knew of the betrayal , but the profit - minded Hutts agreed not to enforce the treaty so long as the violating Kajidics and the Republic ensured payment of a steady tribute of credits to the larger organization . When the Empire learned of the activities on Quesh , the Cartel reluctantly declared the Republic - allied Hutts traitors and unhappily entered into a military alliance with the Sith . Behind the scenes . The Hutt – Imperial treaty was created as part of the setting for the upcoming LucasArts video game " " . The accord was first alluded to in the fourth entry of the Galactic Timeline , titled " " . The Timeline is a series of in - universe video entries voiced by actor Lance Henriksen , available on " The Old Republic " official website . The treaty was explicitly mentioned for the first time on the Quesh information page , found on The Holonet , an online database for information on " The Old Republic " setting , also available on the official site .