Page 15 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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capitulating the engagements of the Sultans of
Muscat to ITcr Majesty’s Government, and the
acts of friendliness, and of material support
afforded to them, particularly in cheeking the
attacks of hostile tribes on Muscat, made the
following demands upon the Sultan :—
(n-.) The abrogation of a cession of a piece of
territory for a coaling station to Franco (to which
he had agreed without the knowledge of Her
Majesty’s Government).
(A.) The dismissal of a confidential adviser,
Abdul Aziz, who was notoriously inimical to
British interests.
(c.) Payment of interest on certain sums due
as an indemnity to British subjects.
(d.) Cessation of the levy of taxes on British
subjects which were not compatible with his
Treaty engagements.
(e.) The issue of orders to his subjects for tlve
exclusive use of the Muscat flag.
Under threat of force the Sultan formally
complied with these terms, and wrote to the
French Consul declining to receive Abdul Aziz
(who was the Consul’s Munslii) as French
Agent.
About this time the opinion of tho Law
Officers of the Crown was sought ns.to certain
nspeets of the Anglo-French Declaration of 1862,
engaging Great Britain and Franco to respect
the independence of the Sultan of Muscat.
They expressed themselves as follows:—
“ 1. Tho Declaration uf l$i>2 docs not in our opinion
require tho British Government to ubstaiu from exer­
cising a preponderating influence in Muscat, so long as
that jnflueiico is not exerted iu any way inconsistent
with tho independence of Muscat. For instance, the
sulwidy, and tho terms on which it was made payable,
involved no breach of the Declaration.
“2. Wo think tlmt the British Government would be
justified in punishing or even deposing a particular
Sultun who broke his engagements with tho British
Government. Tho undertaking contained in the
Declaration is an engagement to respect tho indepen­
dence of tho Sovereigns of Muscat as representing the
country, and does uot carry with it an inability to
punish any particular Sovereign tor breaches of Treaty
or of international law. For this the consent of
Franco is not necessary. But it would be a breach
of the Declaration if after deposing a particular Sultan
a successor were sot up who was not independent
“We should add that, whilst tho question whether
tho Sultan could consistently with tho Declaration be