'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎39r] (82/180)

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In 1900 Shaikh Abdul Aziz, on his accession not without violence to the
Shaikhship of 'Ajman, wrote to the British Resident at Bushehr that he had signed
the agreements of his predecessors with the British Government and that he would
abide by them; and the Resident in reply expressed approval of the Shaikh's
resolution. The incident was of a novel character and susgested that agreements
by predecessors were not regarded as binding by the Shaikhs of Trucial 'Oman,
unless confirmed by themselves; but an enquiry held by Colonel Kemball showed
that such was not the case, and the Government of India then laid it down that
the various engagements executed by individual Trucial Shaikhs are necessarily
binding on their successors. At the same time the Government of India emphasized
the desirability of taking means to secure that each chief should be clearly
acquainted with the provisions of the agreements by which he is bound.
An Agreement for the suppression of the arms trade in their territories was
signed by all the Trucial Shaikhs in 1902. As among the expedients by which
the British Government were at this time endeavouring to combat the growth of
the traffic in the Gulf, this Agreement is mentioned in the special Appendix
on the Arms Trade, where also the text of the same is given as an Annexure.
The wreck at Dibai in the autumn of 1903 of the " Fath-al-Khair ", a native
vessel owned at Suwaiq in the Sultanate of 'Oman, but flying the French flag and
therefore regarded by the French Vice-Consul at Masqat'as under his protection,
led to an exchange of views between the British and the French Governments in
regard to the political status of Trucial 'Oman. In consequence of allegations that
the boat in question had been plundered, the French Vice-Consul addressed a
demand for compensation direct to the Shaikh of Dibai; and the despatch of the
French cruiser " Infernet" to Dibai to enforce compliance with the same was
momentarily expected. At this juncture the Government of India authorised the
British Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to inform the French Vice-Consul of the
existence of the Exclusive Agreement and to offer to relieve him of the case; and
at their suggestion a similar communication was made in Europe to the French
Government. In April 1904 the French Government, after explaining that they
had hitherto been unaware of the existence of the special relations between the
British Government and the Trucial Shaikhs, agreed that the settlement of the case
should be entrusted to British authorities, which was accordingly done. Eventually
some compensation was awarded by a Shara' court at Dibai to the owner of the
" Fath-al-Khair", which was proved to have foundered in consequence of a
collision.
In 1906, with the object of ensuring that the Trucial Shaikhs should be properly
acquainted with their treaty obligations, each was supplied with a collection, clearly
printed in Arabic and in English and handsomely bound, of the principal agree
ments in force between himself and the British Government. To this collection
was prefixed, as an introduction, an address delivered by His Excellency Lord
Curzon, Viceroy and Governor-General of India, to the Trucial Shaikhs at a Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
held off Sharjah on the 21st of November 1903.* Arrangements were also made
to provide the chiefs from time to time with flags of the pattern prescribed in the
Treaty of 1820, in adherence to which they had shown themselves remiss, some
through indolence and apathy, others from prejudice. Avoidance of the use of
the Trucial flag was most marked at Abu Dhabi and Dibai; and in 1906 the
Hinawi Shaikhs of those places after mutual consultation informed the Resident,
in reply to a communication on the subject, that they could not compel their
subjects to place themselves under an emblem so closely identified wth Qasimi
traditions and Ghafiri principles. For various reasons it was considered expedient
not to press the matter at the time.
Apart altogether from the question of specific engagements and their results,
the period now under consideration was on the whole an auspicious one in the
history of British relations with Trucial 'Oman.
For three years, ending in 1899, no Resident visited Trucial 'Oman in person;
but, in the years following, numerous tours along the coast were made by Colonel
M. J. Meade, Colonel C. A. Kemball and Major P. Z. Cox, the successive Residents,
and the foundations of a more regular and direct intercourse were laid. In these
circumstances it became possible for British officers to pay occasional visits to the
interior; and Major Cox, who, under the auspices of the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi,
had travelled by way of Baraimi from Abu Dhabi to Masqat in 1902, was able
in 1905 to explore the unknown country between Ras-al-Khaimah and Baraimi
and to return to the coast at Sohar.
* Vide the Appendix on Lord Curzon's Cruise page 2638.
48533 L
Question of
the necessity
of renewal
of agree
ments, 1900.
Arms Agree
ment, 1912.
Relations of
the British
Government
with Trucial
Oman
explained to
the French
Government,
1903.
Supply to
the Trucial
Shaikhs of
copies of
their Agree
ments and of
Trucial flags
of correct
pattern. 1907.
General
relations.