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of the United Arab Emirates arc still in question, and its internal
divisions and subdivisions remain confusing.
The entire question of territorial claims on the Coast is inextricably
linked with the various extensions of British policy. The demands
of both Iran and Saudi Arabia had to be handled, according
to the terms of the 1892 agreement, by the British Government;
and the delineation of the borders of the shaykhdoms with each
other was also directed to a large extent by the British administrators
in the Gulf. However, the role played by Britain in the disputes
with Iran and Saudi Arabia was much more significant, since
the issues at stake had greater implications. During the 1930s there
were a series of Anglo-Iranian and Anglo-Saudi discussions aimed
at solving at the diplomatic level those countries’ territorial disputes
with the smaller Gulf stales. Both series bore little fruit. But both
had another factor in common: in each ease, the British Government
seriously contemplated disposing of the conflict by inducing the
shaykh whose land was disputed to lease or sell it to Iran or
Saudi Arabia, whichever claimed it.
When, in 1928, the Persian authorities seized a dhow from Dubai
and mistreated its passengers, the British Government decided not
to take a strong stand until the ownership of the Tunbs and
Abu Musa had been resolved. Efforts were also under way at
the time for the conclusion of a new Anglo-Persian agreement,
and in a draft of the treaty in 1929 it was decided that the
island of Sirri would be recognised as Iranian, and Tunb and
Abu Musa as Arab.1 In 1930, however, negotiations between the
Iranian and British governments were broken off, because of the
refusal of the British to accept an Iranian claim to Tunb.2 Taimurtash,
the Iranian Minister of Court, had intimated in August 1929 that
the Iranian claim to Abu Musa would be dropped if the British
Government were to recognise Iranian ownership of Tunb. The
Foreign Office in London was anxious to settle the dispute and
was not averse to the idea that Shaykh Sultan of Ras al-Khaimah
should grant a lease to Iran. But the Political Resident (Barrett)
did not think this would be easy:
I do not think he will accept any sum of money which Persia
is likely to offer for Tanb. He is a man of obstinate and suspicious
temper and will suspect the motive of any offer he may receive.
The lighthouse which the British Government built on the island
gives it a considerable importance to us; and the Shaikh has
recently been persuaded by some busybody that he can obtain
large revenues from it.3
The predictions of the Resident proved accurate. In May 193°
he interviewed Sultan and attempted to persuade him to grant