125 another one that allowed them to convert the civil station to a military base for the use of the British R.A.F. However, the existing agreement had only two years remaining until it expired, and Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr, Ruler of Sharjah, was already demanding that the rent and other dues in relation to the Air Station be increased. To settle some of the relevant issues, the Political Agent, Bahrain, made a visit to the Sheikh of Sharjah. He also wrote to the Political Resident in the Gulf, Bushire, informing him of this. In response, the Political Resident in the Gulf wrote a letter dated 15 January 1946 to the British-India Foreign Office, New Delhi, repeated to the Commander of the British Air Force, saying that the Sheikh of Sharjah had refused to accept the payments for the months of June and July, which were due to himby virtue of Sharjah Air Station Agreement of 22 July 1932. He also reported that after the Bahrain Political Agent’s visit, the Sheikh accepted the payments, but had then written requesting a rent increase. 5 The Foreign Offices of New Delhi and London started consultations on changing some of the clauses in the agreement between the Government of Sharjah and the British Government. As soon as the Gulf Political Resident knew about that, he sent an expedient letter dated 1 October 1949 to both of the said offices saying: “Indications are that the Sharjah landing ground will continue to be used fairly frequently by civil aircraft Indian, private and foreign. I therefore recommend that the existing air agreement be allowed to run its course until it expires on the 22nd July 1948. It will be desirable to obtain the Sheikh’s approval to certain verbal alterations on the lines suggested in paragraph 2(c) of India Office Letter No. Ext.4539/46 dated the 6th July l946 to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. If desired I will submit specific recommendations regarding these alterations.” 6 In his letter of 17 February 1947, the Gulf Political Resident made his recommendations to the Foreign Offices of London and New Delhi. He stated: 5 Ibid., L.P.&S/12/2042,EXT.736/1946. 6 Ibid., L.P.&S/12/2042, EXT.6971/1946. FROM A CIVIL AIR STATION TO A MILITARY BASE
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