Page 319 - UAE Truncal States
P. 319

Chapter Eight

                     This so called Exclusive Agreement integrated the Trucial States
                   into the screen of semi-independent Slates and principalities which
                   was created right across the British Indian Empire’s northern
                   frontiers and western seaboards and along its vital communication
                   lines with Europe. It was designed to impede the progress into any of
                   these areas of the rival powers France, Russia, and the German-
                   Turkish alliance of interests.*10 For the sheikhdoms in the Gulf this
                   agreement made it virtually impossible to conduct their own affairs
                   with outside powers or even with their Arab neighbours, such as the
                   Wahhabi Stale, without the close scrutiny of the British authorities.
                   Thus the British Government secured enough exclusive influence
                   and practical political leverage over these shaikhdoms without
                   formally making them protectorates.47 During the first decades of the
                   20lh century this predominantly political and military leverage48 was
                   turned to economic advantages. In 1911 the Trucial Shaikhs pledged
                   not to give concessions for pearling and sponge-fishing without
                   consulting the Political Resident.49 Practical matters such as safe­
                   guarding the telephone cable across the Musandam Peninsula and
                   the construction of a lighthouse on Tunb Island were also regulated
                   by agreements.



                   5 British anticipation of economic benefits




                   Move to exclude non-British economic interests
                   By the time the First World War broke out, the prime objectives of the
                   "cordon-sanitaire" policy of the British Government with regard to
                   the Arab principalities in the Gulf had been achieved. Formal treaties
                   and undertakings as much as informal political tutelage had made
                   it impossible for these principalities to respond to any diplomatic
                   overtures from the Turkish and German enemies or from any other
                  rivals to the British position. This, in turn, also secured the British
                   military objectives by preventing the establishment of foreign bases.
                   Even the economic benefits which could be derived from these
                  shaikhdoms, though they were considered to be meagre enough in
                  the case of the Trucial Stales, were put securely out of the reach of
                  any   outsiders and made almost inaccessible even for British
                  subjects.50
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