Page 71 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

The Challenge lo Power: Brother, Nephew and Son 47

‘Abd al-Kalunan's presence in Hirah was regarded as a threat
not only by Humayd bin ‘Al)d al-‘A/.iz l)ut also by Khalid bin
Alnnad, who could not tolerate such a potentially dangerous man
in his shaykhdom. Together the two rulers prepared an armed *
force, and in January 1921 they attacked ‘Abd al-Rahman in Hirah.
The Senior Naval Officer, Captain Pearson, was cruising close by
in HMS Triad, so he intervened and arranged a settlement between
‘Abd al-Rahman and Khalid whereby the former would go back 'i
to Hirah and cause no more trouble and Khalid would protect
him as his subject.36 Humayd of Ajman, however, refused to accept «
the mediation of the Senior Naval Officer,37 and was particularly
annoyed with Khalid bin Ahmad for having done so. Despite *
Humayd’s attitude, the agreement was implemented and trouble
l<
between Khalid and ‘Abd al-Rahman was averted, but only for
a short while. I
Meanwhile, Sultan bin Saqr, eldest son of the previous ruler
of Sharjah, had been petitioning for restitution of the money and
property rightfully belonging to him that Khalid had seized on
becoming ruler. His petitions to Khalid were in vain, and in 1921
he finally gave up trying, bitter about his impecunious state. He
left Sharjah and settled in Dubai, where, in March 1923, he married
the daughter of ‘Abd al-Rahman bin Muhammad, thus entering
into an alliance that was radically to alter the course of his career.
Khalid regarded the marriage as a deliberate threat to his authority,
and began making preparations to attack ‘Abd al-Rahman once
again. He won the Baluchi guards of the Hirah fort over to his
side, and then tried to persuade the residents of Sharjah to attack
Hirah, but they refused, afraid of harming relatives. At this juncture,
Khalid approached the Residency Agent and asked him to intervene.
In the course of his inquiries, ‘Isa questioned both parties, and
the ensuing correspondence in the Agency records leaves it in no
doubt that Khalid and his brother ‘Abdallah were the initial aggres­
sors. Furthermore, ‘Abd al-Rahman complained bitterly of Khalid’s
oppressiveness: the people of Hirah were being taxed very heavily
on their income from pearls and dates; some were being illegally
deprived of their property; and ‘Abd al-Rahman himself had barely
managed to escape an attempt on his life by Khalid.38
The Residency Agent devised a scheme for the reconciliation
of the opposing parties; this included the restoration by Khalid
to the people of Hirah of all that had been taken from them
illegally, and the stationing of two of the Agent’s men to guard
the fort at Hirah until Khalid and ‘Abd al-Rahman could reach
an amicable settlement. The terms of ‘Isa’s plans were accepted,
written down, and signed by the two antagonists in the presence
of the Senior Naval Officer.39 But a lasting peace was still not
in sight. A few months later, trouble erupted when Khalid appointed