Page 159 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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32. As Sultan had been an unsatisfactory Ruler and Saqr had usurped his
position without bloodshed and been accepted by the people of Ras al Khaimah
the Political Resident recommended that the latter should be recognised as Ruler as
soon as he had given an undertaking to observe all previous treaties and
engagements, and authority was received to act accordingly. He gave the required
undertaking(“) and was formally recognised on July 16, 1948. Though unimpressive
he has much force of character. Since his accession he has co-operated satisfactorily
with Her Majesty’s Government and by somewhat drastic methods has established
his authority over villages which were virtually independent in the days of his
predecessor. He is accompanied on almost all occasions by his father Muhammad,
a wise old man who probably exercises a restraining influence, and his elder brother
Humaid, a rather colourless character whom it~was at one time proposed to
recognise as Regent of Kalba (paragraph 23 above).
33. Sultan did not willingly acquiesce in his replacement by Saqr and at once
started to intrigue against him. In order to preserve the peace the Political Agent,
Bahrain, thought it desirable that he should be removed from the Trucial Coast for
the time being. He therefore summoned him to the Agency at Sharjah and asked
him to accompany him to Bahrain, but he ran away firing shots at those who
attempted to overtake him; some of these going dangerously near the Political Agent.
He took refuge for a time at Manai'i near the Wadi al Qaur and from there went
to Muscat. Eventually through the good offices of the Sultan of Muscat a
settlement was reached with him whereby he paid a fine and spent a year in exile
in Muscat territory. On his return from exile he established himself at Manai’i. He
had for long maintained a post at Huwailat in the Wadi al Qaur itself, having been
paid to do so by the Sultan of Muscat in order to protect the latter’s territory from
raids. Here he placed a barrier and collected tolls from motor traffic using the
Wadi. The barrier has since been removed but he is reported still to be recovering
tolls from civilian traffic in return for keeping the track in repair. In 1951 his son
Saqr, presumably with his connivance, assassinated the Ruler of Kalba (paragraph
23 above). In 1952 after the Saudi occupation ol Hamasah, Sultan is reported to
have had dealings with Turki and to have sent him a present of camels. After his
exile he does not appear to have intrigued further against Saqr of Ras al Khaimah
but he maintained an independent position in the Wadi al Qaur while attempts were
made to effect a settlement between him and Saqr on the basis of the payment of
an allowance by the latter. A settlement was eventually reached at the end of
1953 whereby Sultan agreed to accept the status of a subject of Saqr, and Saqr
agreed to pay Sultan an annual allowance of Rs. 16,000 and one-sixth of any
future oil revenues.
34. It may be noted here that the Wadi al Qaur is the only route between
the Trucial Coast and the Gulf of Oman which is fit for regular use by motor
vehicles and that the question of establishing the ownership of the western end of
it is a matter of importance. It is claimed by Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and the
Bani Ka’ab. Historically the Qawasim probably have a good claim but in recent
years the Bani Ka’ab have grazed in it without recognising any Qasimi authority
and in 1951 when the Trucial Oman Levies located a post there they attacked it on
the grounds that it had been established without their permission. Whether the
Bani Ka’ab are finally recognised as a Muscat or a Saudi tribe difficulties are likely
to arise in keeping the Wadi open for traffic if their ownership of the western end
of it is accepted.
35. Soon after his accession Saqr started having trouble with his tribesmen
and his neighbours, who were possibly instigated by Sultan. In 1949 he was
involved with Rams, Bakhah, Jazirat al Hamrah and the Khawatir. In 1950 the
Shaikh of Bakhah in Muscat territory attacked the village of Sha’am at the northern
end of Ras al Khaimah territory and did much damage. One of His Majesty s
ships visited the spot and effected a settlement. There was further trouble m
November and a warship again visited Sha’am. On this occasion the Governor
of Khassab sent the Shaikh of Bakhah to Muscat. He returned and in February
1951 again attacked Sha’am. Saqr sent a large armed party to the place, and me
Political Officer Trucial Coast and the Wali of Khassab also intervened, Lnoris
to reach an amicable settlement failed and the Shaikh of Bakhah was warne n
again to enter Ras al Khaimah territory without the permission of His Majesty
(") No. 14IV.T.C.