Page 205 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

The Exercise of Power: British Representatives '7'

years later, however, Khalid bin Ahmad of Sharjah, about to launch
-;i attack on ‘Abd al-Rahman in Hirah, asked Isa to intervene
an
again; a short-lived peace ensued, but in November 1924 Khalid
was deposed by his nephew. He appealed to the Political Resident
and claimed that ‘Isa’s cupidity had been responsible for his downfall.
Khalid saw his wish to have telegraphic facilities installed at Sharjah
as the root cause of the trouble:21 the fear that the suggestion
might be taken up by the Resident, probably resulting in the
stationing of British officers there, had led ‘Isa to collude with
‘Abd al-Rahman for the ruler’s downfall.22
This was not the first time that ‘Isa had been accused of collusion
with ‘Abd al-Rahman. In 1920, when he mediated between ‘Abd
al-Rahman and his opponents, Shaykh Humayd bin ‘Abd al-Aziz
of Ajman angrily denounced the Agent’s deceit; he claimed that
‘Abd al-Rahman, when about to be defeated, had asked for help,
and that ‘Isa had spirited him away to the safety of the Agency
instead of fulfilling his promise to have the usurper tried according
to Islamic law.23 The Political Resident, however, refused to believe
any story of connivance on the part of the Residency Agent, despite
a letter from Ibn Sa‘ud to C. K. Daly, the Political Agent in
Bahrain, in which the king clearly stated that his support had
been solicited by ‘Abd al-Rahman, and that ‘Abd al-Rahman had
been helped all along by ‘Isa bin ‘Abd al-Latif.24
The relationship between ‘Isa and ‘Abd al-Rahman is interesting.
Both men were masters of intrigue, but their attitude towards each
other fluctuated between great friendship and bitter enmity—both
of them being capable of changing loyalties if that gave greater
opportunity. ‘Abd al-Rahman was described as follows by a British
naval officer in 1934:

Born to intrigue, his abilities have in no way decreased of late.
By far the most clever man in the swindle, he sees himself
in the role of ‘King Maker’ strictly on the basis of payment
for services rendered. He has experience enough to know that
this is much less risky, and may be quite as profitable as seeking
power on his own account.25

This description could well have been made to fit ‘Isa, but there
was one strildng difference between the two men: ‘Isa came out
of any skirmish undefeated, for he could always rely on being
upheld by the Resident in Bushire; but ‘Abd al-Rahman all too
often succumbed to the intrigues of his adversary. It is not surprising,
therefore, that the Residency Agent resented any intrusion on his
powers26 and was alarmed at the prospect of being supplemented