Page 587 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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(vi) Shipping—
1037. 1038.
British . 60 61
Jnpancso 4 15
Dutch . 0 0
Gorman 1 1
(vii) Local Affairs—
(a) Early in the year Rais Mohammad Rasul Rais Hassan, an Iranian,
and Klialaf al Ali az-Zamami, a Kuwaiti, trading in Dubai, were found
guilty of arms smuggling in Dubai and the Shaikh was called on to expel
them. This he undertook to do but certain interested persons in Dubai
instigated the notables to prevent their deportation. At the same time con­
siderable excitement was caused by false stories of the intentions of His
Majesty’s Government in regard to emancipation of slaves, and a difficult
situation arose. On the 25th March the Political Agent and the Residency
Agent met the Shaikh of Dubai and the notables in Majlis ; the policy of His
Majesty’s Government in regard to slaves was explained in detail and on the
folly of their attitude being pointed out the notables at once withdrew their
opposition to the expulsion of the two arms smugglers who left Dubai shortly
afterwards.
(b) During the summer, there was considerable agitation in Dubai
for reforms of a democratic nature, led by prominent members of the Al Bu
Falasah, the Shaikhly family. The first outbreak, during which armed
bedouin were called in by the Shaikh to help him against the hostile section
of the Al Bu Falasah, ended in a promise by the Shaikh to grant certain
concessions. Tn the next few months, however, during which both he and
his brother, Shaikh Juma, visited the Political Agent and strove to obtain
armed British intervention, it became clear that the Shaikh did not intend
to implement his promises. Finally, open hostilities became imminent, and
the Political Agent went to Dubai in H.M.S. Deptford. By this time the
Shaikh had lost all public support, and eventually an agreement was reached,
providing for a State Majlis, over which the Shaikh himself would preside,
a Municipality and other reforms. The relations of the state with His
Majesty’s Government remain in the hands of the Shaikh.
(c) The Shaikh of Ras al Khaimah has written an apology to the Senior
Naval Officer for his refusal to call on His Majesty’s sloops visiting Ras al
Khaimah.
(viii) Oil.—(a) On the 15th November a geological party of Petroleum
Concessions Limited accompanied by Captain J. B. Howes, Assistant Political
Agent, Bahrain left Shagjah for Baraimi. After getting- as far as Baraimi
through territory of the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi, they found the hinterland
Shaikhs impossible to negotiate with (thanks in large measure to the
intrigues of various Shaikhs of the Trucial Coast); and after surveying a small
area, were obliged to return to the Coast on the 16th' December.
(b) On the 9th December Mr. S. H. Longrigg, representing Petroleum
Concessions Limited, obtained an exploratory option from the Shaikh of
Ras al Khaimah covering a maximum period of 3J years.
(c) On the 22nd December, he obtained a 75 year concession from Shaikh
Khalid, the Regent of Kalba.
(d) Negotiations with the Shaikh of Abu Dhabi for an oil concession
were still in progress at the end of the year.
H. WEIGHTMAN,
Political Agent, Bahrain.