ملف ١٩٢٣/٤٠١١ الجزء ٢ "الخليج الفارسي: مفاوضات ١٩٢٨ هنجام" [و‎‎٧‎٩‎٢] (١٩٣٤/١٥٨٨)

Commmdmg Troops Henjam and from other Bandar Abbas Officials, came
across to the Trncial Coas.t that Persians next move was, the occupation of
Kas-el-Kaimah,
Tumb Island,
Bli Musa Island.
The above caused great excitement, and the Shaikhs of Ras el Khaimih and
Sargah informed the Residency Agent that they were sending armed hen across
to Tumb and Abu Musa to defend them.
The Residency Agent strongly advised them not to take action as the renort
was probably an exaggeration or soldiers gossip. The Residency Agent’s advice
was taken..
Next came a senes of urgent letters (dates not known) from Shaikh Ahmad
at Khassab to the Acting Shaikh of Dubai (Shaikh Hashar) informing him of
his flight and appealing to all Beni Yas tribesmen on the mainland to help him
recover his Island and women. These he said were surrounded by the Persians
and though so far unmolested, he feared for their honour. He added they had
only a certain amount of food and when this was finished they would sfarve.
The Shaikh of Shargah and Shaikh Hashar both wrote to the Residency
Agent for advice. The latter urged them to keep quiet pending orders from
Bushire.
While the matter was being referred, Shaikh Hashar of Dubai again
approached the Residency Agent and said as head of the Beni Yas his duty
was to arrange a peace and the return of his uncle Shaikh Ahmad, he proposed
therefore proceeding to Khassab himself and from there to try and get into
touch with the Officer Commanding Troops, Henjam, through Salem al Khaja
Shaikh of Kishm Island and open negotiations.
If, he said, the Persians refuse my advances, then I can take more forcible
measures.
The Residency Agent immediately forbade the Acting Shaikh of Dubai to
go to Khassab or take any action at all, as any conversations with Pers,ia was
against his treaty engagements.
Again Shaikh Ahmad (about 20th June) wrote to the Acting Shaikh of
Dubai pointing out that he greatly feared for his own and the other women
(numbering several hundred) who were imprisoned on the Island as their food
was nearly finished while the Persians neither gave them any, nor allowed him
(Shaikh Ahmad) to send any across from Khassah. He therefore intimated
that he was collecting a band of raiders and intended attacking the village of
Old Henjam and forcibly evacuating the wumen to the mainland.
On this Shaikh Hashar of Dubai again acting on instructions from the
Residency Agent Avrote and urged Shaikh Ahmad in the strongest of terms to
take no action as orders might shortly be expected from the Hon’hie the Political
Resident, which he hoped would satisfactorily settle the matter.
On the 30th June, Shaikh Said bin Maktum, the Ruler proper of Dubai him-
s,elf returned from Mecca and took charge. He A\ T as greeted A\ 7 ith a fresh letter
Pom Shaikh Ahmad on arrival reporting that a “ Mullah ” had arrHed from
Henjam with offers of peace in the shape of a letter from the Officer Commanding
Troops, Henjam. The letter A\ T as couched in generous terms, and promised
“ Aman ” to Shaikh Ahmad, and urged him to return to Henjam. A similar
letter was addressed to the smaller Shaikhs of Henjam who were also taking
refuge at Khassab (copies of thes.e letters were shoAvn me, originals are on Avay
to Bushire).
The letters were signed by “ Mufatish Harbiyeh fi Bundar Abbas-
Shaikh Ahmad begged Shaikh Said to assist and advise him.
The matter stood there on 2nd July.
Note. —Regarding' Salem-al-Khaja of Kishm, the Residency Agent states that last December,
lie crossed over in IT. M. S. “ Enterprise ” to Bandar Abbas and met this individual. The latter then
fold him that he had been commissioned by the Persian Authorities to get hold of Shaikh Ahmad
somehow, and had stated confidentially that, he had been appointed Shaikh of Kishm conditionally
m lus affecting his capture. The Residency Agent thinks the occupation of Henjam and the whole
present situation is a result of Shaikh of Kishm’s intrigues.