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