'File 0223 Ras Al Khaimah Affairs' [‎91r] (181/284)

al Khaimah, 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. Agent was since instructed to supply the
whole quota to Ras al Khaimah itself. In my opinion the control of
the distribution of food stuffs is our best lever should we wish to
bring pressure to bear in this case).
1 then saw Shaikh Mohammed bin Salim again, told him
that Shaikh Sultan would take no action until I had seen him again,
and I asked Shaikh Mohammed bin Salim to do the same to which he
agreed.
6* He then emphasised the importance of the return of his
family and followers from the gardens to Ras al Khaimah to their homes,
as it was a bad time for sickness in the gardens. I told him to be
patient as the matter was under consideration.
Both the Shaikhs returned from Sharjah on the 27th.
As regards foodsupplies Shaikh Mohammed bin Salim stated that
Shaikh Sultan had withheld food supplies from him. (Shaikh Sultan
had denied this to me).
6* The situation appearing to be one of stalemate, both sides
being firm in their own aims, but ready to obey Government orders, I
called for Shaikh of Sharjah, Ajman, and Kalba to obtain their views.
The Shaikh of Sharjah is closely related to the Ras al
Khaimah families and he and his brother have been mediating in the
case, and have up to now been maintaining with some success a period
of truce between the two parties. Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr mentioned
how he had persistently tried to get Shaikh Sultan of Has al Khaimah
to agree to his brother and nephews return, and that he would guarantee
their good behaviour. However, Shaikh Sultan bin Salim had been very
obstinatethroughout and repeatedly refused all idea of allowing
his nephews to return. In Shaikh of Sharjah’s opinion, the
accusation by Shaikh Sultan bin Salim that the Amir of Shamal had been
approached by the nephews with the object of raising a revolt against
the Ruler was entirely false, as he himself interviewsed the Amir
of Shamal. The Shaikh of Sharjah then gave it as his opinion that
Shaikh Mohammed bin Salim and nephews, owning considerable property
in Has al Khaimah and having a big following, could not leave the
town and that it would be an injustice for them to have to do so.
He then stated that it was only by Government intervention that
considerable bloodshed and its attendant unrest and protected feuds c
could be avoided. He thought that both parties would obey at once
whatever Government decided. I gave him a non-committal reply
and thanked him for his effort to keep the peace, which indeed he has
done so far.
Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid of Ajraan and Shaikh Khalid bin
Ahmed of Kalba were of the same opinion as the Shaikh of Sharjah,
and earnestly invoked Government intervention.
Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed suggested, off the record, that
two of Shaikh Sultan’s sons, Salim and Khalid, and two of Shaikh
Mohammed’s sons, Saqr and Abdulla, be exiled for a period of 6 months.
This was the only novel suggestion offered.
Apparently Shaikh Sultan bin Salim resented Shaikh Khalid's
presence as a mediator as Shaikh Khalid himself had been expelled by
the Shaikh of Sharjah under similar circumstances some years ago.
7. (a) In conclusion I would emphasise that whatever policy
is now adopted, either to intervene or not to intervene, we should
now declare that policy as soon as possible.
(b) In view of the programme of the P.C # L # prospectors, to
work in the Ras al Khaimah area a state of unrest and fighting is
most undesirable.
(c) I think it is the general desire, and it is becoming
greater than ever before, on the part of the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. Shaikhs
that Government should control more directly, and intervene in tribal
/ disputes