Page 64 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

40 The Origins of the United Arab Emirates

his wings were clipped: he was disarmed and placed under house
arres1 Ahhough the people or Umm al-Qaiwain had shown no
signs of disloyalty, Abdallah bm Rashid could never trust his uncles-
he refused, for example, to allow Sa'id bin Ahmad to return home
despite many assurances of goodwill and friendship. Exasperated,
ba id complained to the Residency Agent, ‘Isa bin ‘Abd al-Latif,
who went to Umm al-Qaiwain early in October 1922 in order
to mediate between the ruler and his uncles.
He found that Abdallah was far from being convinced of the
need for mediation, and at first ignored his pleas for reconciliation;
later, he promised ‘Isa that he would reconsider the matter and
then transmit his decision to the Agency in Sharjah. During the
time he spent in Umm al-Qaiwain, the Residency Agent discovered
that the young ruler (about twenty years old) had managed to
alienate most of his family, including his paternal grandmother
and his cousins, the sons of Ibrahim bin Ahmad; and that Sa‘id
bin Ahmad had given up hope and had moved to Ajman. ‘Isa
also heard that many people from Umm al-Qaiwain who were
disenchanted with the ruler were making secret visits to Sa‘id bin
Ahmad in Ajman.6
Sa‘id was not silent about his predicament, and complained to
the Political Resident about his nephew, blaming, in particular,
the Bani Qitab bedouin for the continued animosity to which he
and his relatives were being exposed at home. He warned that
his son and nephews, the sons of Ibrahim, were still at Umm
al-Qaiwain and loyal to him, and added that he was sure the
Resident would not object if they all united against ‘Abdallah.7
In March 1923 Trevor, the Political Resident, visited Ras al-Khai-
mah, and there met Sa‘id. He was impressed with Sa‘id’s grievances
against ‘Abdallah, especially when he discovered that the ruler
had dispossessed Sa‘id. Anxious to avert an outbreak of violence
within the ruling family, Trevor wrote to ‘Abdallah advising him
to make peace with the dissident members of his family. He gs^e
the letter to the Residency Agent to deliver, and instructed him
to try to establish peace so that ‘Abdallah could be recognised
by the British Government.8 r ,
‘Isa went to Umm al-Qaiwain late in September and found
‘Abdallah firmly established as ruler. He proceeded to pve him
all the requisite papers regarding treaty relations with Bntam.and
‘Abdallah gave him written acknowledgement and promised to abide
bv the trelties.» ‘Isa then pleaded with the ruler to go with h.s