Skip to item: of 10
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'Future Policy on the Trucial Coast. Correspondence between the Secretary of State for India, the Government of India, and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (1929)' [‎103v] (8/10)

The record is made up of 1 file (5 folios). It was created in 23 Oct 1929. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

8
bones. Two years ago the entry of modern invention was prohibited, but now the
Shaikh of Has al Khaimali is inquiring about a bord car, and has been for a flight in
a flying boat; the Shaikh of Dubai has purchased a motor launch for himself; the
Bahrain is having some effect on this benighted coast. 1 think it should be possible
to take advantage of any advance that may be made, but the first desideratum is to
restore that personal touch which vanished after 1910.
14. Before the unfortunate Hyacinth incident of 1910 the personal influence of
Sir Percy Cox had gone far to break down the barriers of reserve and suspicion ; but
the whole position gained was lost by that unfortunate episode, and it has never been
recovered. No successor has occupied the position of Sir Percy Cox, and during a recent
flying boat visit to Abu Dhabi, Captain Prior was surprised to find that not even the
name of a single successor of “ Kokus ” is known in that town. This is due to lack of
touch and this lack of touch was due first to the preoccupation of the war and
subsequently to the withdrawal of the Pesident’s despatch vessel. To maintain touch
with his large maritime command the P esi dent must have a despatch vessel, at the
disposal solely ol himself and his Political Agents. It is impossible for him to share
this vessel with any other department, as was shown when an attempt was made to
make the same ship serve the double purpose of despatch vessel and tender to the
lighthouses.
Having obtained the despatch vessel, supervision over the work of the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
Agent on the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. should be entrusted to the 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 Bahrain,
who should be relieved of routine work by his Indian Assistant. The Political
Agents work may be supplemented, if necessary, by the Secretary to the Resident.
J he 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. must visit each Trucial Shaikh at least every quarter and be
prepared, il necessary, to make a long halt off each town. At present the Resident
pays one, or at most two, visits of one day’s duration each year. This is insufficient
to inquire thoroughly into all problems, and the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent’s recommendations
are perforce accepted. Inquiries regarding the various monetary claims of British
subjects and into the diving debts of so-called debtors, who are usually slaves who
have absconded to Bahrain, will give the 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. plenty of excuse for his
presence.
In addition, 1 am hearing most disquieting reports about the prevalence of the
slave trade on this coast, and I anticipate that searching inquiries may have to be
made.
At first, the 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. must return to his ship each night; but in the course
of time, as he becomes better known anti confidence is established, I hope he will be
invited to stay ashore for ever lengthening periods.
15. My policy is gradually to restore, and improve on, the position which existed
before the Hyacinth episode, when, as Sir Percy Cox reported, “No definite objection
was ever evinced to the occasional sojourn of approved Europeans.” Having regained
this position we can more easily, should we so desire, locate a 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.
ashore without fear of trouble.
this pohc}’ is to be adopted if the Trucial Shaikhs do not compel us to take
sterner measures to force through our air route. At present, the Shaikh of Ras al
Khaimah is showing himself obstinate in his refusal of all requests for a refuelling
station at his headquarters. r lhe Shaikh of Hamariyah, a dependency of Shargah,
however, has offered to rent a store-room for the use of the Royal Air Force if his
lagoon should prove useful to them as a flying boat harbour. The example of this
Shaikh, Abdul Rahiman bin Saif, will prove of use in breaking down the opposition
of others on the coast, and the question of obtaining store-rooms will become one of
pounds, shillings and pence.
1 he Royal Air Force will not be content with store-houses, however. They desire
to have aerodromes, wireless stations, and rest-houses.
J he erection of a wireless station formed part of the ultimatum to the Shaikh of
Dubai in 1911, which was subsequently allowed to lapse. The Royal Air Force wish
to settle on this coast, and this means closer contact with the coast Arabs. 1 have in
para. 11 stated the final result of close contact between a strong civilised Power and
a weak barbarian State.
10. Ihe Uoverninent of India do not desire increased commitments, but they are
bound to come. His Majesty’s Government must be prepared, in course of time, to-

About this item

Content

The file contains a note written by John Gilbert Laithwaite of the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. introducing enclosed correspondence between the Secretary of State for India, the Government of India, and 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. concerning the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. policy of His Majesty's Government.

Consisting of:

Extent and format
1 file (5 folios)
Arrangement

This file consists of a single memorandum.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 100, and terminates at f 104, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'Future Policy on the Trucial Coast. Correspondence between the Secretary of State for India, the Government of India, and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (1929)' [‎103v] (8/10), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B419, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100029571311.0x000009> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100029571311.0x000009">'Future Policy on the Trucial Coast. Correspondence between the Secretary of State for India, the Government of India, and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (1929)' [&lrm;103v] (8/10)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100029571311.0x000009">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000833.0x0003dd/IOR_L_PS_18_B419_0008.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000833.0x0003dd/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image