Coll 34/12 'Slavery and Slave Trading: Measures to prevent slavery on the Trucial Coast' [‎188r] (375/473)

Minute Paper.
Lf
Department
Resort to force in dealings with Arab Sheikhs.
*
Woy 2 ,s) l. 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. refers to two precedents
for the use of a threat to size pearling dhows (Ahu
DhaM, 1934, and Umm al Qawain> 1937). In the former
P.Z.4405/35 case he presumably has in mind an incident of 1935*
in which a threat to seize the Abu Dhabi pearling fleet
was contemplated (but apparently not delivered) in the
event of the Sheikh refusing to apologise for a display
of incivility to the Commander of His Majesty’s Ship
M Fowey”. The use of the threat was approved by H.M.G.
P.Z.3331/37 (Foreign Office, Admiralty and Air Ministry concurring)
In the Umm al Qawain case in 1937 the threat to interfere
v/ith the pearling fleet was approved by H.M.G. in
connection with the Sheikh’s obduracy in refusing
adequate facilities for the survey of his harbour.
2. In 1930 a threat was made, and executed, to
P.3516/30
seize the pearling dhows of Ras al Khaimah, the Sheikh
♦
having refused to allow a petrol barge for the use of
the R.A.F. to be moored off his territory. There was
no question in this case of failure to carry out a
previous undertaking. The possibility of resort to
bombardment was discussed at the time. The Air
Ministry (being very much concerned about the
establishment of the air route) were in favour of this
course, but there was reason to think that the Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Arthur Henderson)
would have raised difficulties, since he felt doubtful
of our legal right to insist on the Sheikh providing
the desired facilities. In the event a settlement was
reached/
7173 Wt 8900/111 10.000 4.88