File 22: Trucial Coast

There are 10 surviving files containing correspondence dating mainly from the 1930s and 1940s, about the conduct of British relations with the Trucial Coast shaikhdoms. The majority of the correspondence is between the Political Agent, Bahrain and his subordinates at the British Residency Agency in Sharjah, namely the Political Officer for the Trucial Coast and the Native Residency Agent for the Trucial Coast, who regularly submitted reports about local matters. There are several major topics discussed in the correspondence. The relations of the ruler of Sharjah with the chief of Hira and the rulers of other neighbouring shaikhdoms, over the resolution of conflicts and disputes between local inhabitants, 1930s-1940s (IOR/R/15/2/616). The maintenance of peaceful relations between the ruler of Sharjah and his predecessor the Regent of Kalba, 1920s-1940s (IOR/R/15/2/617). The conduct of foreign relations with Iraq and Persia by the ruler of Dubai, in contravention of his treaty obligations to the British Government, 1940s (IOR/R/15/2/618). Complaints received by the Political Agent, Bahrain about widespread corruption and injustice in Dubai by customs officials and others, 1940s (IOR/R/15/2/ 619). Peace negotiations between Kalba and Muscat authorities over the building of a defensive tower at Diba in response to tribal raids, 1940s (IOR/R/15/2/620). Corrupt rule and popular revolt in Kalba during the Regency, 1930s-1940s (IOR/R/15/2/621-622). The request of the Ruler of Fujairah for recognition as an independent state under British protection, 1930s-1940s (IOR/R/15/2/623). British concerns about the acquisition of land in Ras al Khaimah by the Ruler of Dubai, 1947 ( IOR/R/15/2/624). Renewal of the Persian territorial claim to the Gulf islands of Tanb and Abu Musa and the British naval response, on behalf of the ruler of Ras al Khaimah, 1948-1949 (IOR/R/15/2/625).

The Trucial Coast subject files belong to the Confidential Office file series and are arranged according to their Confidential Office subject file number. Each individual file reference consists of the subject number '22' followed by an oblique stroke and a unique, sequential file number, for example: file 22/4. This individual number is further subdivided, if another part file on the same topic was created, for example: file 22/8 II. The Roman numeral 'II' represents file part '2'. One of the two surviving files about 'Dubai' was renumbered from '22/8 III' to '22/11'. As far as possible, successive files on the same topic were arranged in chronological order.

Unrestricted

The majority of the correspondence in the files dates from the 1930s onwards. By this period, British relations with the Trucial Coast shaikhdoms were conducted increasingly and directly by the Political Agent, Bahrain rather than his superior officer, the Political Resident, Bushire. The former was supported by and in regular correspondence with a subordinate British officer based at the British Residency Agency in Sharjah, who was responsible for Trucial Coast affairs.