Page 448 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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268. Sir W. Mcrewclhcr in March 1873 forwarded to tlio Government of
India the following two telegrams dated
Political A, July 1873, Nos. 314-345.
25th and 26th March fromGwadur:—
“ Reported that the Ibrahim Khan is on his way to Tiz to see now fort. KxpccVd thorc
in two or three <la\ s, arrived at Ka^snrkund four d:ys ago, and report that two Pereian
officials arrived at Kassarkund on road to Karbar to open up tiadc; that if Haitians will
return will be exempted from taxes for one year. Mirzn Said 11 main picvious to leaving Tiz
for hlaskat took away Ilrnain Khan of Gob’s mbsidy guarantee, said nono of these pcoplo
have right t«» mouoy from British Government, believe Din Mahomed and others arc to be
taken away also; under order, it is said, from Persia.”
And in forwarding them lie remarked :—
“That if something is not arranged in regard to Persian appropriation of Maskat
possessions on Mckran Coast, difficulties will ari60 iu regard to protection of telegraph line.”
269. The Commissioner of Sind was told in reply :—
“ As Gwadur is now protected both by Sir F. Goldsmid's boundary and by the express
abandonment by Persia of all claims to it. there arc apparently no further ppss-cssions on the
Mekran Coast for Persia to annex. Under these circumstances, His Excellency in Council
does not at present anticipate any 6erious difficulties with regard to the protection of the
telegraph line. Should you, however, still be of opinion th t difficulties are likely to arise,
1 am to request that you will submit, for the information of His Excellency iu Council, a
special report on the subject, and suggest the measures you would propose to meet them.”
270. On the 7th October 1&7-A the Resident in the Gulf forwarded two
kharitas from Seyyid Turki, addressed
Political A., Doootubcr 1874, Nos. 140-1-14.
respectively to the Secretary of Slate and
to the Viceroy and Governor-General upon the subject of the claims of Maskat
upon Cbarbar, which His Highness was under the impression had come within
the purview of the Commissioner appointed for the settlement of tlio Mekran
boundary. The following is the purport of the kharitas:—
To Marquess of Salisbury, Principal Secretary of State for India, dated 27 th Shaban 1291 =
9th October 1874.
“ I beg to acquaint Your Lordship that when the Commissioner appointed by tho British
Government for the settlement of the Makrau boundary arrived, and entered upon the duties,
no one was present at that time who could advise on our behalf with him, and who could
point out the places which belonged to cs, and lienee 1 he country known as Charbar and
belonging to us was apportioned to Persia. It is possible the Commissioner acted inadver­
tently in this, or that he was ignorant of tho fact that the abovenamed country descended to
us from our ancestors. Out of re?pect to your Government we have hitherto refrained from
asserting our rights to this tract (Charbar), but we are certain you would never consent to
this (vis., that Persia should deprive us of our rights).
“Certainly the British Government and the Oman Government are one, and our trust in
all matters is centred in you. Now our hope from the great (>overmnent is that the abovenamed
tract Charbar will be restored to us and incorporated in our dominions as it has beon
of old. To remain silent regarding loss of territory and to bo indifferent about it is
improper. We place unbounded trust in the British Government, and it was necessary
for us to represent this matter to you. ”
To Lord Northbrook, Viceroy and Governor-General of India, dated 27th Shaban 1291=9th
October 1874.
“ X beg to acquaint Your Lordship that when the Commissioner appointed by tho British
Government for the settlement of the Mekran boundary arrived, and entered upon his duties,
no one was present at that time who could advise on our behalf with him, and who could
point out the places which belonged to us, and henco the country known as Charbar and
belonging to us was apportioned to Persia. It is possible that the Commissioner acted
independently in this or that he was ignorant of the fact that tho abovenamed country
descended to us from our ancestors, out of respect to your Government wo have hitherto
refrained from asserting our rights to this tract (Charbar), but we are certain would never
consent to this (vis., that Persia should deprive in our rights).
“ Certainly the British Government and tho Oman Government are one, and our trust
in all matters is centred on you. Now our hope from the great Government is that the above-
named tract fCharbar) will he restored to us, and incorporated in our dominions as it baa
been from of old. To remain silent regarding loss of territory and to be indifferent about
it U improper. We place unbounded trust in the British Government, and it was neces­
sary to represent this matter to you.”
271. In roply tho Political Agont was instructed to acquaint Syud
Turki that there \ras—
“ no foundation for the idea that the part of Charbar
__1 was apportioned to Persia on
the sct'.lemont of Mckran boundary. Charbar was excluded altogether from General