Frontiers between Muscat and Trucial States p.83

FO 371/132796 1958
Confidential

Political Agency
Trucial States
Dubai
May 15, 1958

As forecast in paragraph 7 of my letter 5121/40/58 of April 19
from Museat I returned to Buraimi on April 28th to tour Abu.
Dhabi's rontier claims in the south between the Wadi Safah
ana un al Zemul. I then opent two days in and around the
oasis collectins evidence and ceploring the attitude of
Shaikha Zaia, Abilullah bin Salim, and Mohammed bin Salimin
towards a frontier settlement boitore returning to Dubai and
going on to the Vadi. Madha, with Shaikh Salchr. the Sultan's
representative. A day in the Wadi. Madha showed that all
the 'exiles from the Wadt in Thor al Falchan hnd returned
to their homes, even Rashidy the son of Sharjah's murdered
champion, 2.ving in China. It also proved to Shalich solch
that the Waal was an island or Sultanato territory surrounded
by Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah and Sharjah, and it revealed to
both of us that Nahawa, the Couragim village, was situated in
the centre of the wadi on the track which runs between ljuseet
controlled Hajar Bent Hamid in the West and luscat controlled
Chuna in the East. As I have already reported in the past,
I believe that useat has the stronger case (as well as de
facto control) to the areas of the wadi which she claims.

2. Having finished with the Wadi ladha I went on alone to
Dibba with letters of introduction to the Shihuh Sheikhs in
Baiah from Shaikh Salchr, as the letters of introduction which
14 had been arranged should be sent by Saiyed Ahmed bin
Ibrahim with Shaikh Salehr had not arrived. The Sheikh of the
Bani Shatair section of the shihuh, Bohammed bin Saleh, was
in Baiah (Dibba) but the shalich of the Bani Hadiyah, Handan
bin Ahmad, was away in the mountains, and Mohammed bin Saleh
did not think that he could give me information or allow me to tour
with the Shihuh without consulting Ilandan fiest. However,
he was very friendly, and told me that he would act on my
behalf' before Hamdan and the rest of the shihuh, and would
let me know the result if I come bacis next winter. He also
said that he had no objection to mix touring his borders with
the awaoim of Huon Dibba, and the sharqiyin, which I aid.

3. As I had areed with the Sultan during our last meeting
in Muscat, I discussed the question of a frontier settlement
with the Rulor of Fujairah who happened to be at Dibba. He
said that he and the Sultan weze one, but that he welcomed.
the idea of our working to lay down a line so that the tribes
men would now their frontier.

1. I mentioned above that I had already discussed the same
question with Zaia. As was expected he was very anxious for
a settlement and was apparently disappointed that it could
not be completed this year. He stressed the point that while
he had show me his frontier claims he would be prepared to
give way in any areas where I thought concessions were just and
necessary, and from his conversation I gathered that he had been
thinking of a settlement on the lines of an arbitration by
Her lajesty Government. Eaia's attitude seems surpaising in
the face of the present situation, as were the frontier left
unsettled there seems little doubt that Abu Dhabi's power
and the Sultan's wealmness of control in the area could only lead
to a further Abu Dhabi expansion. Iis repeated assurance
to me that he wishes to lot nothing mar his friendship with
the Sultan is also strange when considered in conjunction

with

Confidential