TALE OF A CITY 92 Hasan bin Abdulrahman al-Midf’a. The Political Agent, Bahrain responded in a manner that was not befitting to the status of Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi. In his letter dated 12 October 1940, he wrote: “ NO . C/772-28/10 THE 12Octobor 1940 To Shaikh Sultan bin Saqr, Ruler of Sharjah, After compliments , I duly received your letter dated the 20th Jamad al Thani 1359 together with its enclosure regarding your Secretary Abdullah bin Faris. I informed the Political Resident of its contents and with his approval I nowwrite to you as follows. 2. Your letter appears to me to indicate that you know less of what goes on in your own town than I do although I live inBahrain. Though I do not fully appreciate the reasons why you are so anxious to retain the services or a man of such dubious loyalty I don’t seek to quarrel with you on his account. I wish to make certain that you fully realise the responsibility that rests upon you in retaining him; and I must tell you that I myself shall take adequate steps to ensure that I am kept fully aware of all that he does. If Abdallah bin Faris wishes to prove that he has undergone a change of heart and that he is now a loyal and in energetic supporter of his Majesty’ Government then let him do so by deeds and not merely by verbal protestations. There is a plenty that he can do in putting an end to pro-Nazi talk in Sharjah and in promoting pro-British feeling and I shall wait with interest to see exactly what he does. 3. Imust tell youalsoanother thing.Withyour letter you sentmeadocument signedby48 notables of Sharjah which certified that «Abdullah bin Faris» is a great supporter of His Majesty’s Government and an enemy of their enemies, that he encourages people to further the British cause and that he is opposed to all those who sympathise with Germany or Italy. Amongst those who signed this letter were many British subjects and I amwriting to all of them sending them a copy of the document which they signed so that they may know clearly and without any possibility of misunderstanding exactly
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