Page 441 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

93
23?. Tn roply to the Jettor, forwarding this intelligence, and submitting
the above mentioned suggestion, the Government of India said, No. 2G37-P.,
dated 7tli December 1871 :—
“ The Viceroy and Governor-General in Council docs not see that the British Government
are in way called upon to interfere in this matter. The recognition of Syud Toorkee as Itulcr
of Maskat by no means implies that everything that belonged to Maskat in the timo of his
predecessors should be considered as now under ITis Ilighncss's rule. His Excellency in Council
would hesitate to send the gun-boat Hugh Hose to Charbar or Gwadur for the purpose
proposed. It would no doubt be advantageous if Syud Toorkee could consolidate his rule; but
it is neither incumbent on the British Government, nor would it be expedient to make a
demonstration of force with a view to help him to do so. Ifis Excellency the Governor
General in Council has done all in his power to procure for Syud Toorkee the release of Bunder
Abbas from the Persian Government. In regard, however, to Gwadur and Charbar, which
were formerly parts of Maskat, but apparently are at present governed independently by Aldool
Azecz, His Excellency in Council docs not think it advisable to interfere to establish Syud
Toorkcc's rule there aud put down Syud Azecz any' more than in Sohar, which appears to be
somewhat similarly governed by Ibrahim bin Ghes.
"The Governor-General in Council concurs in the opinion of the Bombay Government
that Syud Toorkee ought not to be prevented from sending vessels and men to Gwadur and
Charbar. His Excellency in Council has no desire to prevent Syud Toorkee from putting to
sea, with a view to establish his authority in any part of his dominions that inay be situated
outside the Persian Gulf."
(iv) • Persian pretentious to Gwadur and Charbar : Demarcation of boundary line between
Persia aud liholat: Capture of Charbar by the Persians.
233. In the course of tlie correspondence of 1869 regarding the encroach­
ments of Persia in Mekran, the Persian Government distinctly and repeatedly
claimed Gwadur and Charbar as Persian possessions.
23k The instructions of the Government of India to General Goldsmid
for his guidance in the demarcation of the boundary between Persia and Kbelat
in Mekran contained the following passage regarding the possessions of Maskat
on that coast: —
“ His Excellency in Council does not think it desirable that the question of the Persian
claims to Charbar and Gwadur should be taken up. It would be impossible indeed, for such
a question to be settled by a Commission on which tlio Maskat Government is not represented.
In the unlikely event, therefore, of Perfia pressing the consideration of her claims to these
two sea-port*, or Khclat claiming Gwadur, you will content yourself with recording fully the
grounds on which the claims rest, and will inform the Commissioners that no opinion can be
given on the subject except after communication with the Government of Maskat."
2;15. General Goldsmid, writing from Gwadur on the 13th April last
used the following expressions :—
“ I don't know whether tho many changes among the late Rulers of Maskat have
influenced or not tho policy of the Arabs of Oman in respect of their isolated possessions on
the Mekran Coast, but there is certainly a great want of authoritative Government at the
ports of Gwadur and Charbar. At the former a Beluch is in charge, who was at one time a
peon in Major Ross’s establishment; at the latter, Khwa Ismael, a Sindi by biitb, but an
Arab subject, is the Acting Governor. He appears a kind of Agent to the Persian autho­
rities in land. If there should be no actual understanding between the Persians and Arabs
regarding Charbar, aud I have never heard that there is any, there is at all events no evident
jealousy or ill-feeling at the visits of the former, even when attended by sevcial followers."
Captain Evan Smith said the red flag of the Arabs was loft flying from
the port of Charbar the whole time he was there engaged in discussion with
the Persian Commission.
236. When the Shah had accepted General Goldsmid’s proposed demarca­
t On tlio 8th October 1871 Seyyid Turki wrote tion of the Perso-Kbelat boundary which
to Colonel Pelly aftying that tho inhabitants of started from a point on the sea in Gwa­
Charbar and Din Mahomed Khnn o.in plained dur Bay, the Persian + Sirdar of Gch wrote
much of Abdul Aziz; that Din Mahomed had
written to say ho had tsken possession of Charbar, to the Clerk in charge of the Telegraph
and would hold it on Seyyid Turki’e account; Office at Charbar, saying that it had been
that ho had thereforo sent thither a Governor,
Rashid bin Named, who had bccu Governor of decided at. the Persian and Euglish Con­
the place formerly. ference at Teheran that, the country from
At the sanio time Seyyid Turki wrote another Minab to Gwadur, including Charbar,
loiter to Colonel Pelly communicating his foar
of tho danger of Abdul Aziz, who was in corres­ belongs to the Shah of Persia, and beyond
pondence with tho people of Maskat and of Gwadur eastward to the Khan of
Sharkish. tho Haith tribe and other Arabs.
Colonol Pelly in sending on theso letters said;— Kbelat.
"It seems also desiraole that a decision should Tho Clerk telegraphed this message to
be nrmed at in regard to tho disposal of tho
outlying districts on the Mokran Coast. These Karrachi, and Sir W. Merewether, on
• Takcu from Mr. Buckland’a Fricis.