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which is not altogether satisfactory. Ho expressed anxiety to know when the flag quostion
betwoen himself and the French would conic heforo the Hague Tribunal, to which l could
roturu uo more tatisfactory reply than that that Court had a good deal of work on its hands
which might occupy somo time. The Sultan cvideutly feels ki ciily uu the matter, as he very
rounouably may, and it is one in which I would press upon llis Majesty’s Government the
doairability of accelerating progress as much ns possible.
G07. In the Viceroy’s reply to the address of welcome presonted at Muskat
on 18th November 1003, by a deputation of Hindu, Muhouunedan, I’arsi and
othor protected British subjeets settled intho towns of Maskat and JUatrah, we
may note tho following passage :—
In one paragraph of your address you havo spoken of tho disturbances that some times
spring up in the interior and which occasionally travel down to the coast ports and affect the
security of the places in which you reside. Tho British Government have never embroiled
thomsolvcs in this internal strife, which appears to bo a hereditary legacy in Oman. But
undoubtedly if they w*r« to reach a point that seriously menaced the interests and imperilled
the lives an l property of British subjects lawfully treading upon the const, we fchould feel called
upon to iutervene for their protection, and by no one, l am sure, would such intervention bo
moro loyally welcomed or more cordially assisted, than by His Highness.
G08. Of the address of His Highness the Sultan at the public Daibar
held on board tho “ Argonaut ” wo may quote tho following passage :—
It is now more than a century since my foro fathers first entered into treaty redations with
Great Britain and that an English Resident has represented the Great Government in our
Territory, and for a long period befiro that Maskat bad been in constant commercial touch and
intercourse with tho English through the trading ports of India.
During that period the Rulers of Oman have been on terms of the closest friendship with
Great Britain and at many of those hours of need and difficulty which are wont to arise so
suddenly in an Eastern Stale l and my forefathers have been the grateful recipients, on innumer­
able occasions, of that moral and substantial support which the British Government in the person
of the Vieeny of India has been ever ready to afford. / am, therefore in no wag different from
my predecessors in owing a targe debt of gratitude to the Viceroy of India, but there is oue point
in this connection in respect of which I do stand alone among tho Seyyids of Oman and that
is in experiencing the great honour and pleasure of being able to welcome a Viceroy of India
in persou to Maskat and to express ray feelings to him face to faco: and it is with grateful
appreciation and with tho knowledge that my relations and my loyal subjects will fully endorse
what I say that 1 declare that at no time in Maskat history and from no Viceroy has greater
sympathy and kindness been extended to us than by this great Viceroy, Lord Curzon, whom I
am privileged to address to-day. I consider mysolf particularly fortunate therefore in being
able to testify lofore ibis august assemblage to the reality of our obligations and the sincerity of
our appreciation of Ihoin. More than this I beg Your Excellenoy to believe me when I declare
that neither I nor my brother nor my children should they be called upon to follow after mo
will ever cease to bo mindful of tho elaims of that strong and ancient friendship which in timo
past bas kept seeuro the bonds of union existing between Great Britain and ourselves, and
that we will at all times remain loyal to those tics.
609. In the address by His Excellency the Viceroy at Earbar, His
Excellency made tho following important statement of policy: —
I havo referred to the fact that the British Government have extended a peculiar measure
of protection in tho past to tho State of Oman and its rulers. They have, on more than one
occasion, intervened to save it from rebellion or disruption. Your Highness may rest assured
that this policy will not bo dopartml from. So long as the rulers of Oman continue to observe
their Treaty engagements to the Government of India, and to administer this State with
enlightenment and justice, they will continue to receive the support of the British Government
which is interested in preserving the peace of the couutry and the security of its trade. IVs
cannot regard with satisfaction the attempts of discontented classes or persons among Your
Highness's subjects to disturb the tranquillity of your State, because in so doing not only do they
eontest Your Highness's authority, but they are apt to injure the interests of British subjects
also. These interests we are bound to protect for our own sake as woll for your?. Wo hope
that Your Highness will continue to triumph over all such adversaries in the future as you
have done in the past.
(v) Question of the Sultan Sheikh Faisal’s abdication in favour of his son Sayyid
Taimur; claims of his brother Sayyid Mahomed Turki-
610. The two rival claimants to the Sultanate of Maskat are:—one the present
Politic*! Buideat’s Wo. 243, dated lBth December Sultan’s son Sayyid Taimur by his senior
ISOS. wife and the other is the Sultan’s elder
Sccrot E., March 1004, No«. 7G—77.
brother Sayyid Mahomed Turki, son of
Turki by a negro wife. . Tho lattor self-effaced himself at the time of his
brother’s ‘ succession * which was opposed only by their uncle Abdul Aziz.
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