Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎315v] (635/1028)

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CHAPTER VII.
Administration Report for the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. of Oman for the year 1931
Personnel. —Khan Bahadur Isa bin Abdul Latif, O.B.E., held the post of
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, Shargah, throughout the year.
Pearl Fisheries.—Vne pearl fishing operations on the Trucial coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. commenced
on the 2nd April and lasted till the 20th September The catch was not a good one
and owing to the general depression of trade prices fell about 50 per cent. Even
at these prices, however, purchasers were not forthcoming and merchants were left
with large quantitites of pearls on their hands. Since the pearl fisheries are the
sole means of subsistance of the inhabitants of the Trucial coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , acute economic
distress ensued. The poorer classes were reduced to the brink of starvation
(though as long as there are fish in the sea they can never actually starve), while
the mercantile class, captains of boats, etc., were in many cases unable to meet
their liabilities.
Aviation .—In last year’s report reference was made to the obstructive attitude
adopted by the Shaikh of Ras-al-Khaimah in connection with the storage of petrol
for the Royal Air Force at that place. Since then no further difficulties have been
experienced at Ras-al-Khaimah. though the Shaikh has displayed but little liking
for the presence of the barge. The flying boats of No. 203 (Flying Boat) Squadron
have, however, repeatedly landed at Ras-al-Khaimah throughout the year and on
two occasions Wapitis .have also landed there. The Shaikh has maintained
guards over the petrol barge and has accepted payment for them but protested the
first time Wapitis landed there. His protests were, however, ignored.
During the summer discussions took place in London, at which the Hon’ble
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. was present, regarding the transfer of the Civil Air Route
from the Persian to the Arabian coast in the event of the Persian Government
refusing to extend Imperial Airways’ concession. 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. expressed
the view that while the Shaikhs of the Trucial coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. were frankly averse from
affording any facilities to civil aircraft, which they felt might involve the presence
of Europeans in their territories and interference in their internal affairs, it might
be possible to overcome their reluctance if they were offered a sufficiently lar^e
pecuniary inducement, but that failing this it would be necessary for His Majesty’s
Government to authorise coercive measures. He was therefore instructed to sound
the Shaikhs of Ras-al-Khaimah and Umm-al-Qawain as to whether they would be
prepared to authorise the construction of a rest house in their territories and under
take to protect Imperial Airways’ establishments in return for a suitable subsidy.
He accordingly proceeded to the Trucial coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. in November, accompanied by Air
\ ice-Marshal Ludlow-Hewitt, Air Officer Commanding in Iraq. An examination
of the creek at Umm-al-Qaw r ain, however, showed that it was unsuitable for air
craft, and the Air Officer Commanding suggested as an alternative that facilities
should be sought from the Shaikh of Debai if the Shaikh of Ras-al-Khaimah was
unwilling to accord them. The latter was therefore approached in the first instance
but was entirely uncompromising, and stated that his price was half a lakh—a
figure which was, and was intended to be, prohibitive. 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. ,
therefore, proceeded to Debai, where Shaikh Said was in the first instance con
ciliatory and stated that while he would have to consult his relatives, he thought it
would be possible to come to terms. Unfortunately just at that time he fell ill with
a very sharp attack of bronchitis and up to the end of the year no settlement had
been effected.
Debai. Ruler : Shaikh Said bin Maktum bin Haskar. Though personally
very friendly, he is not a strong man, and stands in considerable fear of an influen
tial faction of his family, who have in the past made attempts to depose him. In
October tne Shaikh accompanied by his brother Juma, visited the Shaikhs of
Bahrain and Qatar, returning with the customary presents. The Shaikh of Debai
subsequently sent his brother Juma to Muscat to intercede on behalf of Shaikh
lasan, ex-Shaikh of Khassab, who had been incarcerated for rebellion against the
Muscat State. It was subsequently arranged through the intervention of the
f lthorities hhat Shaikh Hasan should be allowed to stay at Debai, the
k. raikh of Debai guaranteeing that he would not allow him to return to Khassab.
^. le Sliara Courts and in accordance with the Koranic injunctions
e hand of one Salim bin Feroze was cut off by orders of the Shaikh of Debai for