Coll 30/15 'Anthems and Flags of Various States. Bahrein [Bahrain], Koweit [Kuwait], Muscat, Asir, Yemen, Qatar, Trucial, Oman' [‎52r] (103/261)

3. A little later on (the fair season of 1904-05) during my cold weather
tours I was impressed by the fact that the Trucial flag was never seen at sea,
an ^ accordingly I addressed Government
in my letter No. 201, dated 3rd May
1905 in that connection also.
As regards the flag, when I had first discussed the subject with the Sheikhs
before addressing Government, the Sheikh of Shargah replied “ ilismillah, he
would be more punctilious in future especially in regard to Tamb and Abu Musa; M
and with him go his son, the Sheikh of Has-el-Khaima, and the Sheikh of
Ajman. The other three Sheikhs, Abu Thabi, Debai and Um-el-Kowein said
that they had from time immemorial never been accustomed to fly anything but
the plain red flag and did not want to change it now and argued that in any case
they could not be expected to fly the same “ Jowasmi ’ flag as that flown by
the Slieikh of Shargah (head of the Jowasmi). In refly to this on my next
visit I took down the original treaty of 1820 prescribing the pattern of the flag,
showed the Sheikhs the signatures of their ancestors and the picture of the flag
and proved to them that the red and white flag was not they' Jowasmi but the
Trucial flag. Cn seeing the treaty and the signatures they said “ Yes ”, “ we
have nothing more to say, this is indeed binding upon us At the same time
they agreed to use suitable articles. When however my back was turned they
thought better of their acquiescence and, guided no doubt by the Sheikh of
Abu Thabi who has always been troublesome in these matters, wrote that their
subjects could not be persuaded to adopt these new flags and that if they attem-
ted to press them to do so they would leave their protection and migrate.
4. In August last I directed the 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 to go down to Abu Thabi
and make another attempt to convert the Sheikh, but he was not successful.
The Sheikh repeated the alleged disinclination of his subject to change their
flag and added that if the Sultan of Maskat changed his flag then only could he
and the Beni Yas follow suit. He then went off into a long ventilation of his
old grievances, some real some fictitious. The references in my letter to him No.
317, dated 28th October, of which I attach a copy, will give all necessary expla
nations of what passed.
It will be seen that I postponed discussion of the question of flag (cum
Articles) until I could discuss it with the Sheikhs in person. Unfortunately
when the opportunity arrived for a visit to the coast some weeks later my time
was taken up with the negociationsf for the
release of the imprisoned Sheikh of Umm-
el-Kowein, and I did not see the Sheikh of Abu Thabi in person.
After Sheikh Rashid’s release however I did discuss the whole subject
in conclave with him, and the Sheikhs of Debi and Shargah together, and asked
them to tell me exactly what was in their minds, explaining that our only
objects in pressing this matter was their own benefit; by-making it, easier for
our representatives to help their dhows when in difficulties at foreign ports. I
added that if there was too much white on the flag for their taste or if they
were anxious to keep the red flag and write the name of the port across it, I would
explain their wishes to Government; but that they must tell me frankly what
their objections wire. They replied, firstly, that they did not realise the need
for the change themselves; that their subjects objected and that they them
selves could not coerce them. Debai added that whatever might be said about
a common Treaty flag the red and white flag had been known to all from time
immemorial specifically as the “ Jowasmi ” flag and that nothing would induce
the Beni Yas to fly the same flag as the Jowasmis.
As to the articles they had no objection in principle to the forms shown
them or any other forms according to Treaty, but it w r as a trouble to have them
made out, and they would never get their subjects to bother about taking them
and therefore begged that they might be allowed to take their chance and go on
as heretofore.
5. Such then is the position at the present moment.
It is, I am aware, not encouraging from any point of view, neither is it
satisfactory to drop the matter, but that nevertheless is the course which seems
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