Page 45 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

The Aftermath of War: Perpetuation of Control 2 1

sion, neither London nor Delhi was eager to take on new commit­
ments that could only entangle them in the region’s internal disputes.7
This viewpoint was expressed with great cynicism in 1924, when,
with a war about to break out between Ajman and Sharjah, the
Resident warned the Political Agent at Bahrain,

we do not want to become involved in their internal quarrels.
In fact it is probably fortunate that behind these ports there
lies a convenient hinterland, where they can work off their superflu­
ous energies in the immemorial Arab custom of raid and counter-
raid without affecting us.8

The maintenance of the status quo on the Arab side of the Gulf
was the only officially accepted policy. This was confirmed in 1928,
when there was a possibility of declaring protectorates in the Arab
states from Muscat to Kuwait in order to strengthen the British
position in light of the changed relations between Britain and Iran.
This was not the first time that the establishment of formal protector­
ates had been considered. The subject had been debated in 1902,
but it had then been decided not to alter the existing situation.
The conclusions reached in 1928 were similar. In the case of Muscat,
a protectorate was regarded as unnecessary: ‘Happily our actual
hold on Muskat is well nigh complete.’9 The possibility of making
Bahrain a protectorate was considered, since a permanent foothold
was needed on the Arab side of the Gulf;10 but it was felt that,
if Bahrain were to become a protectorate, Kuwait should become
one as well.11 As for the shaykhdoms on the Trucial Coast, the
arguments in favour of making them protectorates were based on
a ‘humanitarian impulse to put down savagery’ and the desire
to present ‘a definite hands-off to Bin Saud’;12 the arguments
against were the tremendous problems that would be raised by
the need to provide for the shaykhdoms’ defence and administration,
and the possibility that certain commitments might extend to I bn
Sa‘ud. The overall conclusion of the debate was that, although
it was of great importance for Britain to retain its special position
in the Gulf region, the status quo was sufficient to protect British
interests there.13
The question of establishing protectorates was not brought up
again, but a number of Residents suggested the appointment of
a full-time Political Agent on the Trucial Coast. The suggestion
was prompted by the knowledge that there was ‘a complete absence
of real political touch’ with the Coast, since the Resident visited
it only once, or at most twice, a year, and all political duties
had to be carried out by the Residency Agent.14 But, once again,