Page 175 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953
P. 175

162

                   ofT. One of the officials jumped into the sea and the other was arrested and released
                   when the Trucial Coast was reached. A protest was received from the Persian
                   Government, but the incident appears subsequently to have been forgotten due to
                   the emergence of more serious disputes with that Government.
                       107.  There is a large Persian element in Dubai and relations between Arabs
                   and Persians on the Trucial Coast are usually friendly.

                                            (d) India and Pakistan
                       108.  The Governments of India and Pakistan have shown little interest in
                   the Trucial Coast since the transfer of power. It has been agreed that members
                   of the Indian and Pakistani Legations in Bagdad may visit the Trucial Coast
                   to enquire into the welfare of their nationals there but the only such visit paid
                   was one by the Indian Charge d’Affaires at Bagdad in February 1952. There is
                   considerable trade between Dubai and India and there are a number of Indian
                   shopkeepers in Dubai, who are well treated and on good terms with the local Arabs
                   and Persians. Petroleum Development (Trucial Coast) Limited employ  some
                   Indians and Pakistanis. In 1949 a Pakistani anti-locust team operated in the
                   Trucial Coast for a few months, and in 1950 a combined Indian and Pakistani
                   anti-locust delegation visited the area.

                                       (e) The United States of America
                       109.  The Trucial States are informally within the Consular area of the
                  United States Consul-General at Dhahran. Since the abandonment by the Superior
                   Oil Company of their Abu Dhabi sea-bed concession in 1952 American interests
                  are limited to their share in Petroleum Development (Trucial Coast) Limited and
                   such American personnel as it may employ, and the small Mission at Sharjah
                   (paragraph 25 above. American warships pay frequent visits to the port, as
                  each ship spends only four months in the Persian Gulf at a time (Chapter 2,
                  paragraph 102) and during this period Commanding Officers wish to see as much
                  of it as possible.
                       110.  The United States Government have taken a close interest in the
                  boundary dispute with the Saudis. Ibn Saud on several occasions discussed the
                  situation with their Ambassador at Jedda, and although they have shown no
                  desire to mediate and appear anxious to refrain from any kind of direct intervention
                  they have from time to time expressed views on the subject to Her Majesty’s
                  Government.


                                             IX.—Miscellaneous
                                               (a) Jurisdiction
                      111. The question of obtaining a cession of jurisdiction from the Trucial
                  Coast Rulers was first raised in 1939 but was dropped because the Political Resident
                  reported that the Rulers were under the impression that His Majesty’s Government
                  already enjoyed jurisdiction. At the end of the last war, in view of expected
                  activities on the part of Petroleum Development (Trucial Coast) Limited, it was
                  considered essential to put the matter on a proper footing. All the Rulers were
                  accordingly asked to give their formal consent to the exercise by His Majesty s
                  Government of jurisdiction over British subjects and all foreigners, and all replied
                  according their consent (Appendix I (i) to viii). It should be noted that the term
                  “ foreigners ” is not interpreted as including subjects of other Trucial Shaikhdoms,
                  e.g., a subject of Dubai arrested for an offence in Sharjah would be dealt with
                  by the Ruler of the latter place and not by the Political Agent. Re-affirmation
                  of the cession of jurisdiction has been included in the undertakings obtained from
                  new Rulers also have been recognised since the original cession. When Fujairah
                  was recognised as a separate Shaikhdom in 1952 its Ruler undertook to recognise
                  the jurisdiction of Her Majesty’s Government over the persons and matters set
                  out under Article 8 of the Trucial States Order in Council, 1950.
                      112 The first Trucial States Order in Council was issued in 1946 after the
                  cession of jurisdiction by all the Rulers. This was replaced by a new Order m
                  Council in 1949 to provide for changes in the judicial arrangements that were
                  considered desirable after His Majesty’s Government had taken over responsibility
   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180