'Historical Summary of Events in the Persian Gulf Shaikhdoms and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, 1928-1953' [‎89v] (183/222)

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130. The British Overseas Airways Corporation s flying-boats services
through the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ceased in 1947 but, as it was desired to retain mooring
facilities in the Dubai creek for use in case of emergencies, the Dubai Civil Air
Agreement was renewed in 1948 for a period of three years, the payment under
it to the Ruler being reduced from Rs. 940/- to Rs. 600/- a month. It was not
renewed again when the period expired in 1951.
131. In 1948 International Aeradio, Ltd., took over from the British Overseas
Airways Corporation responsibility for telecommunications and the management
of the rest-house at Sharjah.
132. In 1948 the Sharjah Civil Air Agreement of 1932 which had been
renewed for five years in 1943 expired. Before its expiry the preparation ot a
new Civil Air Agreement was taken in hand but, owing to the amount ol discussion
this involved and the illness of the Ruler, the Agreement was not signed until
November 15, 1951. Notice of renewal of the old Agreement was given three
months before its expiry and accepted by the Ruler, and it was regarded as being
in force until the new agreement was signed.
133. The Agreement of 1951, which is valid for ten years and renewable at
the option of Her Majesty's Government on giving three months" notice, granted
exclusive civil aviation rights in Sharjah to His Majesty's Government and provided
for the appointment by His Majesty's Government of agents to exercise these rights,
and for the grant or refusal by His Majesty's Government of certain specified
privileges to aircraft of all nationalities^ 126 ) The financial provisions covered
increased pay for guards, monthly rents of Rs. 1,420/- for the aerodrome, which
had recently been extended, and of Rs. 1,000/- for the rest-house, a personal
subsidy Rs. 1,000/- a month and a landing fee of Rs. 10/- for each commercial
aircraft. The agreement was accompanied by Air Navigation Regulations which
were made by the Ruler and applied to persons subject to His Majesty's jurisdiction
by a Queen's Regulation^ 127 ) The various requirements of the Regulations were
to be enforced by an " authorised person " to be nominated by His Majesty's
Government. International Aeradio, Ltd., have been appointed as agents under
the agreement and 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. and the local Manager of International
Aeradio, Ltd., as " authorised persons " under the Regulations.
134. The Sharjah aerodrome was originally constructed for civil purposes
but in 1950 the Royal Air Force extended it to make it suitable for their jet
aircrafU 128 ) It is classified as "joint user." The Ministry of Transport and
Civil Aviation are responsible for its management and the provision of most
facilities and the Air Ministry for its maintenance and for providing fire-fighting
apparatus and an ambulance. It is not an international aerodrome but comes in
the category of aerodromes made available for international use by special
arrangement with Her Majesty's Government.
135. The oil companies operating in the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. have the right under
their concessions to construct airfields for their own purposes subject to Her
Majesty's Government's approval. Such airfields have been constructed by
Petroleum Development ( Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ), Ltd., in Dubai and Abu Dhabi territory.
Their use is ordinarily restricted to aircraft engaged in the companies' business, but
Royal Air Force aircraft use them when occasion arises.
136. Her Majesty's Government enjoy exclusive civil aviation rights in
Sharjah only and have at present no power to control civil aviation in any of the
other Trucial Shaikhdoms except such as may be derived from their general Treaties
and Agreements or from the agreements obtained from them in respect of foreign
aircraft in 1946 (paragraph 128 above).
id) Slavery
(i) The Slave Traffic
137. The importation of slaves from Africa had ceased before the period
under review, but before and during the last was a substantial number of persons
were exported from the coast of Persian Baluchistan and, to a lesser extent
it is believed, from the coast of what was then British Baluchistan mostly to the
f 126 ) P.R. to P.O. Despatch 132 of November 28, 1952 (GA 58/24 of 1952)
( 127 ) No. 3 of 1952.
( 128 ) P.R. to P.O. 1389/1/51 of January 15, 1951 (GA 58/4 of 1951).