Page 177 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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by an exchange of letters (Appendix J (i) c (ii)) which accompanied the Civil Air
Agreement of 1951. Under them the Royal Air Force are granted priority in the
use of any aerodrome established in Sharjah territory free of charge, and the Ruler
receives Rs. 500/- a month rent for the land occupied by the Royal Air Force
camps for so long as it is required, together with the pay of a stated number of
guards for the protection of the camp. The rent was paid with effect August 15,
1945, the date of the cessation of hostilities with Japan. It should be noted that
if the Royal Air Force at any time declare any of their buildings at Sharjah surplus
to their needs they will so far as immovables are concerned become the property
of the Ruler.C4) J
120. In 1942 Pan-American Airways, who were working under the direction
of the United States Army, were permitted to make use of the Royal Air Force
facilities at Sharjah with the consent of the Ruler. In 1944, when the Americans
wished to construct additional accommodation themselves there, it was recom­
mended that the work should be carried out by the Royal Air Force so as not
to prejudice His Majesty’s Government’s exclusive position on the Trucial
Coast.C16) So far as is known the construction was never undertaken.
121. After the arrival of Turki in Buraimi in August 1952 (paragraph 101
above) the Royal Air Force carried out many reconnaissances with aircraft based
on Sharjah and subsequently constructed landing grounds in the Abu Dhabi Zone
of the Buraimi oasis and near the Qatar-Abu Dhabi frontier. They were in charge
of the operations on the Trucial Coast for so long as the Aden Protectorate Levies,
which are under their control, were used to reinforce the Trucial Oman Levies.

(c) Civil Aviation
122. In 1928 the Cabinet approved a decision to develop a strategic air route
on the Arabian shore and a civil route on the Persian shore of the Gulf. In 1931
when it became clear that the Persian Government were unlikely to renew the
permission for the civil air route over their territory which expired in 1932 it was
decided that arrangements must be made at once for the establishment of a civil
air route along the Arabian shore of the Gulf and that for this purpose some
intermediate landing-ground must be found between Bahrain and Gwadur.("7)
The Political Resident was accordingly instructed to enter into negotiations with
the Ruler of Ras al Khaimah and, it he refused the facilities asked for, with the
Ruler of Dubai. Ras al Khaimah had been giving much trouble for some years
over facilities required for the Royal Air Force and at once adopted an intransigent
attitude. Dubai was somewhat more forthcoming but eventually pleaded his
inability to grant the required facilities owing to trouble he was having at the time
with hjs relations. The deadlock was suddenly resolved in March 1932 when the
Ruler of Sharjah wrote to the Residency Agent offering facilities for both landplanes
and flying-boats. A preliminary agreement was signed in May and a final one ill
July. This agreement was made for eleven years with His Majesty’s
Government^’'"l It granted facilities to the Imperial Airways Company and
provided amongst other things for the building of a rest house by the Ruler for the
passengers and staff of the company. A landing ground was constructed and
brought into use by the company in the following October. The rest house was
built in the form of a fort and has since been regarded as the principal outward
and visible sign of British authority in the Trucial Coast. It was in fact constructed
by His Majesty’s Government and its cost was recovered from rent due to the
Ruler. Under the agreement the Ruler was to receive pay for certain guards
supplied by him, rent for the air station and rest house, a personal subsidy of
Rs. 500/- a month and a landing fee of Rs. 5/- for every commercial aeroplane
landing on the aerodrome. No charge was to be made for Royal Air Force aircraft.
In a separate document (Appendix K) the Ruler was given a number of assurances
in which amongst other things his independence was assured and he promised that
British India Steam Navigation Company’s mail steamers would call at Sharjah.
The company had been consulted before this assurance was given and agreed to

('»*) Tel.. Saving, from P.R. to A.O.C.. Iraq. 803-S of April 28. 1948 (W 2953/3/802 of
May 6. 1948).
("•) I.O. to F.O. Ext. 4135 of September 18. 1944 (W 13547/69/802 of 1944).
(,,T) C.I.D. Memos. M.E. (O) 35 of November 2. 1931 (E 5444/439/34 of 1931) and
M.E. (M) 8 of November 9. 1931 (E 5589/67/91) of 1931.
(»>•)I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 4664/32 of August 5. 1932 (E 3965/98/91 of 1932).