'Historical Summary of Events in the Persian Gulf Shaikhdoms and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, 1928-1953' [‎79v] (163/222)

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32. As Sultan had been an unsatisfactory Ruler and Saqr had usm-ped his
position without bloodshed and been accepted by the P e op e ^ A p'f/J 11
the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. recommended that the latter should be recognised as Ruler as
soon as he had given an undertaking to observe all previous treaties and
engagements, and authority was received to act accordingly. He gave e required
undertaking^ 1 ) and was formally recognised on July 16, 1948. Though unimpressive
he has much force of character. Since his accession he has co-opei ated satisfactorily
with Her Majesty's Government and by somewhat drastic methods has established
his authority over villages which were virtually independent in the days of his
predecessor. He is accompanied on almost all occasions by his lather Munamrnad,
a wise old man who probably exercises a restraining influence, and his elder brother
Humaid, a rather colourless character whom it was at one time proposed to
recognise as Regent of Kalba (paragraph 23 above).
33. Sultan did not willingly acquiesce in his replacement by Saqr and at once
started to intrigue against him. In order to preserve the peace the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. ,
Bahrain, thought it desirable that he should be removed from the Frucial Coast for
the time being. He therefore summoned him to the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Sharjah and asked
him to accompany him to Bahrain, but he ran away firing shots at those who
attempted to overtake him; some of these going dangerously near the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. .
He took refuge for a time at Manai'i near the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. al Qaur and from there went
to Muscat. Eventually through the good offices of the Sultan of Muscat a
settlement was reached with him whereby he paid a fine and spent a year in exile
in Muscat territory. On his return from exile he established himself at Manai'i. He
had for long maintained a post at Huwailat in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. al Qaur itself, having been
paid to do so by the Sultan of Muscat in order to protect the latter's territory from
raids. Here he placed a barrier and collected tolls from motor traffic using the
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. . The barrier has since been removed but he is reported still to be recovering
tolls from civilian traffic in return for keeping the track in repair. In 1951 his son
Saqr, presumably with his connivance, assassinated the Ruler of Kalba (paragraph
23 above). In 1952 after the Saudi occupation of Hamasah, Sultan is reported to
have had dealings with Turki and to have sent him a present of camels. After his
exile he does not appear to have intrigued further against Saqr of Ras al Khaimah
but he maintained an independent position in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. al Qaur while attempts were
made to effect a settlement between him and Saqr on the basis of the payment of
an allowance by the latter. A settlement was eventually reached at the end of
1953 whereby Sultan agreed to accept the status of a subject of Saqr, and Saqr
agreed to pay Sultan an annual allowance of Rs. 16,000 and one-sixth of any
future oil revenues.
34. It may be noted here that the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. al Qaur is the only route between
the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. and the Gulf of Oman which is fit for regular use by motor
vehicles and that the question of establishing the ownership of the western end of
it is a matter of importance. It is claimed by Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and the
Bani Ka ab. Historically the Qawasim One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. probably have a good claim but in recent
years the Bani Ka'ab have grazed in it without recognising any Qasimi authority
and in 1951 when the Trucial Oman A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. Levies located a post there they attacked it on
the grounds that it had been established without their permission Whether the
Bani Ka'ab are finally recognised as a Muscat or a Saudi tribe difficulties are likely
to arise in keeping the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. open for traffic if their ownership of the western end
of it is accepted.
35. Soon after his accession Saqr started having trouble with his tribesmen
and his neighbours, who were possibly instigated by Sultan In 1949 he was
involved with Rams, Bakhah, Jazirat al Hamrah and'the Khawatir In 1950 the
Shaikh of Bakhah in Muscat territory attacked the village of Sha'am at the northern
end of Ras al Khaimah territory and did much damage One of His Maiesty's
ships visited the spot and effected a settlement. There was further trouble in
Novemher and a warship a g ain visited Sha'am. On this occasion the Governor
of Khassab sent the Shaikh of Bakhah to Muscat. He returned and in February
1951 again attac'ked Shaam. Saqr sent a large armed party to the place, and the
Political Officer Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. and the Wall of Khassab also intervened. Efforts
to reach an amicable settlement failed and the Shaikh of Bakhah was warned not
again to enter Ras al khaimah territory without the permission of His Majesty's
C 1 ) No. 14 IV. T.C.