"الملف 35/134 III (A 54) صور: أمراء جعلان". [و‎‎٣‎٥] (٤٢٦/٨٣)

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1 therefore euggeeted the possibility of air action
against him*
./hen 1 risited Simla last ^ay it was decided
that 1 should visit Sur before aqy definite decision was
arrived at* 1 have now through the courtesy of the
Senior Naval Officer been enabled to visit Sur and go into
the matter on the spot* and am glad to say have succeeded
in more or less settling it* The Shaikh in question has
hauled down the flag that he used to fly and has praoti*
oally abandoned all his pretensions to independence* and
1 have Just received a telegram from Crabbe saying that
he has gone off to Uuecat with the local Muscat all to
settle up his affairs there* This is very satisfactory
and I have now reported to the Government of India that 1
do not think it will be necessary to take any action
against him* 1 thought 1 would let you know how matters
stood in case you should have received any papers on the
subject from the Admiralty*
There is one other point which I should like
to submit for your consideration* If 1 may be allowed to
say so* the activities of the Navy in the Persian Gulf
have been somewhat circumscribed of late: firstly* owing
to the fact that only 2 sloops have been available and
frequently only one, secondly, they have been rather tied
by the Basidu guard and* thirdly* the sloops available
have been somewhat old and slow* The ships available
have of course done most admirably the specific jobs
which they have been called on to do* e.g* Khassab*
Ras^al-Khaimah* etc** but they have not been able to show
the flag as much of late as they used to formerly and