Page 304 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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Sa ’id were able to secure tlie Shaikh’a concurrence to the
Sir Bani Yaa Island but not for those required at Abu Dhabi Tho^P^v
Agent, Bahrain, visited Abu Dhnbi in December with aview to overenmi. “.'n'
obstacles ytfh regard to the landing ground at Abu Dhabi, and there is m doubt
that a final agreement will be readied early in the coming year. 1
(3) The aeroplanes of Imperial Airways, Limited, continued to make niirht
S weeKrviee?ng ^ N° ineid#nta °CCU1T0<I -nneetion "dth

G. Royal Nary-H. M. S. » Colombo ” of the 4th Cruiser Squadron visited
the Trucial Coast during January and periodical visits were paid to the varioim
States of the Trucial Coast by Sloops of tile Persian Gulf Divisi on.
7. Shipping.—(1) Steamers of the British India Steam Navigation Com­
pany, Limited, have called at. Sharjah and Dibai rcgularlv throughout the vear
Intermittent calls also have been made by steamers of Messrs. Frank C Stride
and Company (Busreh), Limited.
(2) A Japanese steamer called at Sharjah and Dibai on the 7th January
and again on the 20th June.
(3) Steamers of the Hansa Line (German) also called at Sharjah and Dibai
during the year.
(4) S. S. “ Ahmedi 99 of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company, Limited,
called at Dibai on the 3rd October.
8. Internal Affairs.—(1) In May some lighters of the British India Steam
Navigation Company, Limited, were looted in the Khor of Dibai by some of the
Shaikh’s relatives. The Shaikh of Dibai has been warned that he must either
recover the plundered goods or their value. So far the warning has produced
no results.
(2) In September an attempt was made on the life of Shaikh Sa’id bin
Maktum, O.B.E., Ruler of Dibai, by his cousins, and later they proposed to hold
h meeting to depose him. As the cousins had for some time past been indulg­
ing in looting and violence in Dibai, it was feared that this attempt to depose
Shaikh Said would lead to breaches of the peace, which might endanger
the safety of British subjects in Dibai. H. M. S. “ Lupin 99 was, therefore,
ordered to proceed to Dibai and the Royal Air Force demonstrated over the
Town, and later the Political Agent, Bahrain, visited Dibai. As the matter
was an internal affair the Political Agent on behalf of the Political Resident
informed the Shaikh that he could deal with his cousins as he thought fit but
that he should take suitable measures for the protection of British lives and
property. A Notice by the Resident was also published in the Town that if
such lives and property were endangered, those responsible for the disturbances
would be held to account. The Shaikh demanded that his cousins should come
to his house and swear an oath that they would obey his rule and cease from
troubling the people. A critical moment occurred on the night of the 31st
October|lst November, when the Shaikh issued an ultimatum to his cousins
to come to his house or to quit the town by mid-day on the 1st November. The
Shaikh called in bedouin assistance and members of the Shaikh’s sub-tribe
mediated between him and his cousins. After prolonged negotiations they were
successful in arranging for a representative of each of the branches of the
cousins to take the oath demanded by the Shaikh.
(3) The usual amount of petty tribal raiding, camel stealing and occasional
murders and kidnappings took place in various places near the coast but there
were no serious disturbances.
(4) In January there was a recrudescence of fighting between the Shaikhs
of Sharjah and Ajman, but peace was eventually restored through the interven­
tion of the Residency Agent assisted by the Ruler of Dibai.
(5) The Shaikh of Ras al Khaimah has maintained his recalcitrant attitude
throughout the year and has refused to call on Ilis Majesty’s Ships when they
visited the port.
9. General.—(1) In January the Honourable the Political Resident held a
durbar on board H. M. S. “ Shorchara ” at Dibai, at which he presented Shaikh
Sa’id bin Muklum of Dibai the Medal and Badge of the Order of the British
Empire. All Rulers of the T™cial Ooast States were present except the bhaikn
of Ras al Khaimah.