Page 131 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

Establishment of the Air-Route 99

sent for the only source of help available to him, his support
in earlier clays his father- n-law, ‘Abel al-Rahman of Hirah. ‘Abel
al-Rahman ‘proceeded most resolutely to overcome the objections
of the common people, the notables and Mohamed. He posed
as a man of experience, told them of British power and experience,
called them children etc.’25 and obviously made progress. ‘Abd
al-Rahman’s entry into the dispute put an end to the opposition
by Sultan’s family and people to the civil air agreement.
Taking advantage of the temporary lull, and in view of renewed
threats from Sultan bin Salim of Ras al-Khaimah, Sultan bin Saqr
signed a secret agreement around 20 May that was based on a
draft that Biscoc had left behind. He then asked ‘Isa for the
personal support of the Political Resident; Biscoc, however, sent
word that lie would not be able to visit the Trucial Coast before
mid June. In the meantime, further opposition to the establishment
of an airport at Shai^.-h arose; led by the rulers of Ajman and
Ras al-Khaimah, it accused Sultan bin Saqr of selling Sharjah
to the British.26 In order to avert an outbreak of trouble, the
Senior Naval Officer sent the HMS Bideford to Ajman and Ras
al-Khaimah with a warning from Biscoe to their rulers that they
must not interfere in Sharjah affairs.
Sultan bin Saqr was keen to sign an official agreement, but
was clearly afraid of his family’s opposition. He told no one of
his secret agreement, and played for time, hoping to resolve the
predicament in which he found himself. When Biscoe returned
to Sharjah as scheduled, he was unable to accomplish much. The
opposition of Sultan’s family was strengthened by that of the people
of Dubai, who were afraid that the mail steamer that called at
Dubai once a fortnight would be diverted to Sharjah, for it was
known that Sultan had made it a precondition for the granting
of air facilities that the mail steamer should call at Sharjah. Biscoe
tried to alleviate Dubai hostility by asking that the mail steamer
make an extra call at Sharjah while continuing to go to Dubai,
and then proceeded to assure Sultan that his independence would
in no way be endangered by the signing of an air agreement.
After issuing a draft letter to that effect, Biscoe, unable to do
more, decided to leave Sharjah and await results. He thought
that, if the opposition of Sultan’s brothers continued, particularly
that of Muhammad, there would be nothing for it but to resort
to drastic measures. ‘We cannot allow one man to obstruct the
air route . . . and should he [Muhammad] persist in this attitude
I think it will be necessary to deport him or order him to reside
outside Shargah.’27 Biscoe had been particularly impatient with
Sultan’s fears that his independence would be curtailed by the
establishment of an airport, and he remarked with exasperation,