TALE OF A CITY 142 To this end, the Political Resident in the Gulf wrote a letter to the Political Agent in Bahrain dated 12 August 1948, in which he said: “I agree that some expression of our displeasure should be shown to the Shaikh of Sharjah for his lack of cooperation in dealing with Sultan bin Salim. I do not think, however, that we can actually punish Sultan bin Saqr, but we can, equally well non- cooperate.” He also added 6“I should like to withhold (it) for use later should the Shaikh of Sharjah show signs of obstinacy in the present dispute, and secondly, because youmay find it useful to have in reserve should the forthcoming negotiations for a civil air agreement at Sharjah…prove difficult.” 7 A series of negotiations ensued between the English onone hand and Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr, Ruler of Sharjah and his brother Sheikh Muhammad on the other. The English informed the brothers that in addition to removing Sheikh Muhammad to Bahrain, other punitive measure would be taken. However, those measure could be cancelled if the brothers were to accept the Sharjah Civil Aviation Agreement proposed by the English and which had previously been rejected by Sheikh Sultan and his brother, as it meant turning Sharjah to amilitary base. Now, this very same notorious agreement came to the forefront, but was again met with absolute rejection. On 23 August 1948, the Political Resident in the Gulf, issued his instructions to Mr Pelly, the Political Agent in Bahrain to start carrying out the agreed punitive measures against Sharjah and its inhabitants. In mid-September 1948, the English, through their Political Agent in Sharjah, Mr Jasim bin Muhammad al-Kazmawi presented the measures to be taken against the Shaikh of Sharjah for his lack of co-operation in dealing with Sultan bin Salim. The instructions read: “ I have told the Residency Agent to refuse travel facilities to Sharjah’s subjects and … also to ask the other Trucial Coast Shaikhs to do the same. Foodquotas canbe stopped even though the steamers carrying themstill call at Sharjah, by 6 I.O.R./R/15/1/286, p.41. 7 Ibid.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy