'File 8/16 Bahrain Diaries 1938 to 1940' [‎30r] (64/376)

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70. Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ,
(i) Shaikh Mohammad bin Rahmah of the A1 Bu Shamis, who
had come to Bahrain to pay a visit to His Highness the Shaikh
of Bahrain, called at the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. on the 27th June. He claimed
that he was the Shaikh not only of the A1 Bu Shamis nomads of
Khatan but also of those who live in the villages of* Sunainah,
Jubail and Hormuz in Dhahirah. He claimed also that the main
part of Jebel Hafit belonged to him and his cousins, but ad
mitted that a small portion in the north belonged to the Shaikh
of Abu Dhabi and another small part on the east to Shaikh Ahmad
bin Rashid al Saif of the A1 Bu Kharaiban.
(ii) Dubai :
Reference paragraph 62(iv)(b) of my Intelligence Summary
No. 10 of 1938.
The Shaikh of Dubai, yielding to the influence of his
wife and son, failed to effect a settlement and temperatures
began to rise. A further demand for fixed allowances in favour
of his cousins was ignored, and the latter then proceeded to
formulate a series of demands which included the following
1. A Budget and Civil List;
2. Proper arrangements for Health and Sanitation in the townj
3. A watch and Ward Service;
4. Reorganisation of the Customs Department;
5. Fixed Allowances for members of the Ruling Family;
6. Abolition of monopolies held by the Shaikh, his wife
or his son, in respect of landing cargo from ships,
ferries, motor services etcetera.
These demands were communicated in a letter to the Shaikh and
immediately afterwards the Rashid family occupied the Daira
towers, (Daira is the part of the town on the left bank of the
creek), while the Shaikh in his turn began to c ollect his be
douin forces. A truce was however arranged and after much ne
gotiation, in which 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, Sharjah, played a
prominent part, a reconciliation was effected. The Shaikh
agreed to abolish monopolies and promised that reforms would
be made in the Customs and other services shortly; he also pro
mised to consider the question of fixed allowances for his
relatives.
At one stage it seemed that negotiations would break
down, owing to the interference of the Shaikh of Has al Khai-
mah, whom I had to send home with a reminder of what had oc
curred after his intervention in Kalba affairs.
The situation now in Dubai is entirely normal.
71. Oil ,
I am told, though I cannot guarantee the accuracy of
this information, that the California Arabian Standard Oil
Company are negotiating - or are intending to negotiate - with
Ibn Saud to waive the clause in their Concession requiring them
to construct a refinery in Saudi Arabia.