'Historical Memorandum on the Relations of the Wahabi Amirs and Ibn Saud with Eastern Arabia and the British Government, 1800-1934' [‎26v] (52/64)

48
1820 (paragrapli 34 ) they entered into a general maritime treaty with the
predecessors of the present Trucial Sheikhs. They have maintained those treaty ,
relations since that date and have supplemented them by engagements, either with
individual rulers, or with the Trucial Sheikhs generally, regarding slavery and
piracy in 1838 (Ajman, Debai, Abu Dhabi, Shargah); 1839 (Ras al Khaimah);
1843 (all Trucial Sheikhs); 1847 (all Trucial Sheikhs); 1853 (all Trucial Sheikhs),
1864 (Shargah, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Debai, Umm al Qaiwam); 1868 (Abu Dhabi
and Qatar); 1873 (Shargah, Abu Dhabi). In 1887 they secured “exclusive
agreements” from the Trucial Sheikhs, which were confirmed and strengthened #
in 1892, since when control of the foreign relations of these sheikhdoms has rested
with H.M. Government. Further undertakings were obtained from the Trucial j
area in 1902; 1911-12 (pearling and sponge-fishing concessions); 1912 (Shargah-
Tamb light-house); 1922 (oil). The treaty of 1820 and all subsequent treaties were
entered into with the Trucial Sheikhs as independent States, and H.M. Govern
ment, in so far as they have found it necessary to apply forcible pressure to the
Sheikhs to ensure their compliance with the engagements accepted under those
treaties, have done so without reference to, protest by (save in 1833—paragraph 46
above), or the prior sanction of, any other power.
234. Since 1823 H.M. Government have (paragraph 36) been locally repre
sented by a native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. , with headquarters at Shargah, of the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. <
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Since 1932 the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. has informally been placed
under the supervision of the British Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrein. The history of
the period since 1800, as recorded above, illustrates the close contact consistently
maintained with the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. by the Resident, which inevitably arose from
the obligations assumed by the Sheikhs and by H.M. Government under the
Maritime Truce of 1820 (paragraph 34), and the subsequent engagements by
which it was supplemented. (
235. The historical survey above goes to suggest that between 1800 and 1870 [
the Trucial Sheikhs (but Abu Dhabi to a much less extent than the Jowasimis of (
Shargah), were for considerable periods under a large, though not consistently an ,
effective, degree of Wahabi influence, if not control. But the important division s
in the area seems to have been that between the religious factions of the Hinawis ,
(represented by the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi and the Sultan of Muscat) and the ,
Ghafaris (represented by the Jowasimi Sheikh); the minor Sheikhs of Ajman and 1
Umm al Qaiwain, who normally co-operated with Shargah-Ras al Khaimah, and (
of Dibai, who normally co-operated with Abu Dhabi, changing sides according as (
one or other of the two major Sheikhs seemed likely to assume a dominating (
influence. Wahabi influence declined in this area after 1853 and disappeared
altogether, save as a purely religious movement, after 1870. It appears to have
revived only in the period subsequent to 1920. The long breaks in the continuity
of Wahabi influence in Trucial Oman A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. apart, it can fairly be maintained that the (
Trucial Sheikhs have throughout, in continental as well as in maritime affairs,
been independent political entities, even if some of them were negligible in size,
and if most, if not all, were by land responsive to or entirely under the influence
at various times of the strongest neighbouring power, whether that power was
Muscat or the Wahabi Amirs. It seems difficult in any event for Ibn Saud to base
any substantial claim to suzerainty over these sheikhdoms or their immediate
hinterland at this stage, merely on the broken record of Wahabi influence in
Trucial Oman A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. during the period between 1800 and 1870, or on its revival in the
period subsequent to 1920, at a date when he had by formal treaty engagements
undertaken to respect the independence of these States. 1
'• > i
(D) Extent of Wahabi control in the area to the east of Nejd from 1800 to 1934.
236. From the historical statement above it will be seen that this has varied
very greatly, both in degree and in area, and that there are considerable gaps in
its continuity. From 1800 to about 1815 it appears to have been a fairly
substantial control, less marked in the case of Abu Dhabi, extending as far east
as the boundaries of Muscat and largely exercised from Baraimi. The same is
true of the period 1831-33 until 1836, or possibly as late as 1838. From 1845
to 1853 Wahabi influence is again marked over the same area as before. From
1853 to 1869 it underwent a steady decline, and from 1869 until 1923 it is
practically non-existent, though the Sheikhs react quickly to the fortunes of the
s