TRUCIAL COAST DIARY FOR PERIOD ENDING 28 FEBRUARY 1955

ABU DHABI:

The concession payment for 1955 which was due in the middle of January was not paid until 29th January. The Ruler insisted that the payment was settled in cash, but owing to the heavy rains during the second week of that month, it was not possible for the Representative to be certain of getting through by road until 29th January. Arrangements had been made for the payment to be made on 22nd but they were cancelled at the last moment owing to the condition of the road. The Trucial Oman Levies kindly supplied an escort for the journey. It was learned during the last week of February that it was the Ruler’s wish that D’Arcy pay by cheque their concession payment due on 10th March of ￡70,000 approximately plus ￡30,000 which is the salaries due to the Rulers representatives.

During the Representative’s visit on 29th January the old and outstanding problem of the village which exists very close to our daily paid lines at Tarif was discussed. Efforts have been made on numerous occasions in the past to get the Ruler’s authority for the village to be moved without success. It was therefore with considerable surprise that the Representative learned on his visit to Tarif on 6th February that the Ruler had written to his representative to get the village moved to an area at least a mile away from the Company accommodation.

The death occurred in an accident on 13th January of Ali bin Mohamed (an Abu Dhabi subject).

On receiving the sad news, the Representative immediately advised the Political Agent by letter and also wrote informing the Ruler and expressing the Company’s regret. The Ruler in his reply thanked the Company for its expression of sympathy, but insisted that the driver, (a Jordanian Christian) of the vehicle concerned in the accident be tried by him. This matter was referred to the Political Agent who has confirmed that the Ruler is not entitled to try a case in which the accused is a foreigner. The Political Agent is still deciding whether he should try the case or not.