Page 154 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

120 7he Origins oj the United Arab Emirates
1
because of any prospect of oil there, but because Khalid had extended
his influence throughout the Shimayliyyah and would thus be a
useful contact for future negotiations concerning the hinterland.
The India Office informed Longrigg, however, that Khalid had
to be approached as regent of Kalba, and that any concession
he granted could cover only recognised Kalba territory, and not
all of the Shimayliyyah;03 but the main object of Petroleum Conces­
sions in concluding an agreement with Khalid was to secure his
friendship. The terms of the agreement concluded between the
parties, on 20 December 1938, gave the company a seventy-five
years concession and promised it the regent’s help in its relations
with other rulers and with neighbouring tribes.

CAPITULATION OF ABU DHABI

Shaykh Shakhbut was the sole remaining ruler whose territory Petro­
leum Concessions was keen to explore and secure rights for. His
determination to resist Fowle’s ultimatum of Petroleum Concessions
or nothing was outstanding, especially as he was the only shaykh
on the Coast who did not capitulate soon after it was issued.
He was clearly anxious to negotiate with the more generous American
company (with which he on more than one occasion expressed
his willingness to come to an agreement64) and claimed that it
was the political agreement that had been detrimental to his negotia­
tions with Petroleum Concessions. When the requirements regarding
the political agreement were waived, and no excuse for Shakhbut’s
unwillingness could be found, Fowle found other means to bring
the ruler to the discussion table.
From the beginning, the Resident had tried to impress on Petro­
leum Concessions that the only way to deal with Shakhbut was
with firmness. In February 1938, for example, Longrigg had called
at the India Office to express his concern at his company’s failure
to ‘clinch matters’ on the Coast, especially with Shakhbut, who
had made known his refusal to accept any terms that were not
equal to those granted to Ibn Sa‘ud. Longrigg declared himself
willing to go to the area himself if there were any prospect of
a settlement with Shakhbut,65 but Fowle, convinced that Shakhbut,
if left alone to consult with his fellow rulers, would come around
in time, recommended that the company do nothing to change
its terms and said tfcat he saw no reason for Longrigg to go
to the Coast.66
Fowle confirmed this viewpoint shortly afterwards when he went
to Abu Dhabi, where Shakhbut visited him on board HMS Bideford.
The Resident purposely did not mention the oil concession, but