مجموعة ٣٠/ ٣٣ "الخليج الفارسي، الساحل المتصالح. سياسة حكومة بريطانيا. قائمة شيوخ الساحل المتصالح" [و‎‎٢‎٢‎٠] (٨١٨/٤٣٩)

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Prom..The Commanding Officer, POWEY at Henjam.
No. 120.
Date..10th July 1934
The Senior Naval Officer Persian Gulf.
(thro 1 The Senior Officer Persian Gulf
To
• • • •
in H.M.S. BIDEFORD).
Submitted.
During my recent visit to Ajman I had an
opportunity to discuss at some length with the Residency
Agent the general situation between the local ruling
houses on the Trucial Coast. He told me that it would
all be reported in the usual way through the proper
political channels. Although it is no concern of ours
at present it might easily become so, and as the
situation is an interesting one I give here my version of
it for what it is worth.
The situation today is governed by two new
2 .
factors. Firstly the continued collapse of the pearl
market following on the recent world wide slump in values.
Secondly, particularly in the case of Sharjah, the advent
of a new source of revenue for the ruler, namely the
Government subsidy for the aerodrome. The revenue which
the Shaikh of Dabai draws from his customs and harbour
dues is in the same category because it is independent of
the pearl market. Hitherto the dhow-owning class were
rich men and had no reason to be jealous of their ruler.
Now they find themselves poor and their families needy.
Being men of influence and standing they do not like this,
and consider that they should share, at any rate in these
hard times, in the regular incomes which their rulers, to
whom many of them are related, enjoy. The rulers do not
see it in quite the same light. Therein lies the key to
the situation.
3. At Sharjah matters are further complicated by
the presence of Abdur Rahman, who since his return from
banishment at Aden has installed himself as Sheikh of
HairahJ Born to intrigue, his abilities in this respect
have in no way decreased of late. By far the most
clever man in the swindle he sees himself in the role of
’King Maker’ strictly on the basis of payment for
services rendered. He has experience enough to know
that this is much less risky, and may be quite as
profitable as seeking power on his own account.
4. Recent incidents at Sharjah may point the way
the wind is blowing. The late Sheikh of Khan 5 "- Gersh
(Jurra’?) bin Ali- had for some time pursued a quietly
determined policy of separation.
Some three weeks ago he was murdered. The method was
quite simple. A messenger from Sharjah drew him aside
in his own market on the pretext of conversation -
pressing the muzzle of his rifle gently into his ribs he
pulled the trigger. The messenger made his escape, went
back to the Sheikh of Sharjah and reported what he had done.
He was put in prison, and after menacing and angry
protests headed by Abdur Rahman (I am not sure of this)
Sheikh Sultan ordered him to be shot, which was done.
As the story was told me the Sheikh of Sharjah seems to
have double crossed his own hired assassin. However, be
that as it may, his next move was to instal his most
powerful