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<( Written by my hand at Bushiro on Saturday the 5lli day of ZilhajjoU 1882—21at
of April I860 " 7
114. The torms of this declaration were telegraphed to the Bombay Gov­
ernment by Colonel Pelly for approval, and on being communicated to the
Foreign Office at Simla, the Government of India replied that they “ agreed to
Colonel Pelly coming to a friendly arrangement with tbo Wahabi Represen­
tative, provided that any payment from the Mnskat Government shall bo as
arranged betwcon that Government and tbo Wahabi, and not guaranteed by
the British Government. " Colonel Pelly it was added “ can give his good
offices in arranging the details of an agreement between tbo two parties subject
to the above condition, but no Treaty between the British Government and tbo
Wahabi Chief can be made without our seeing tbo full details, and without
the sanction of the Eon.o Government.” Before this reply reached Colonel
Pelly he again telegraphed :—*' I am, I think, enabled to state that Govern­
ment can dictate any consistent demands and relative positions they like, and
that they will be accepted by both the Arab States, but it is on all accounts
desirable that I should be favoured with definite instructions, as early aR may
bo convenient." In answor to this intimation the Government of India
roferred to their previous reply, adding that “ no definite instructions could be
given, and that Colonel Pelly could make suggestions .after consultation with
the Wahabi Agent as ho may think fit, which the Government of India will
duly consider on hearing the opinion of the Bombay Government on the
subject."
116. On receipt of these instructions Colonel Pelly had another interview
with the \\ alubi Envoy who signified that lie “ acceded in all respects to
the wishes of Her Majesty’s Government, and that if any difficulties should
arise as to the tribute, payment from Maskat, tbo Amir would solicit the good
offices of the Resident.” Colonel Pelly then handed to him a letter to the
addross of the Wahabi Chief, of which the following is a copy :—
“I have rcecivt'd your Highness' friendly letter by the hand of your confidential servant
Mahomed bin Abdullah biu Mana and suite.
“ Yon state that your desire is for peace, and your Envoy has handed to me a paper, copy
of which Lenolose, and which has been approved by Her Majesty's Government.
u If difficulties should hereafter arise ns to the payment to he made to you by Maskat,
the English Government do net wish to interfere or become guarantee in a matter which
concerns you and the Sultan. But tho English Government would not object to my using
my good offices in arranging the details of an agreement, and your Envoy informs mo that
io the contingency of such questiou arising, you will write and request my good offices.
u In one of your previous loiters you refer to the question of religion. The religion of
the Wahabis lies between themselves, their Imam and their God, and the English Govern­
ment have no wish to interfere therein.
“ 1 hope this may find you in health, and if you have any difficulty 6end mo a confiden­
tial Agent, and I shall always be happy to meet biin on friendly terms as I have Mahomed
bin Abdullah bin Mana
116. In reporting to Government the result of his final interview with
the Wahabi Envoy, Colonel Pelly wrote :—
“lasted the Wahabi Envoys wbat the Amir meant by staling in his letters that
agreements had existed of old between his Gov­
Political A, Juno 18G6, No* 64-65. ernment and the British. The Envoys replied
that tho Wahabi Amirs had. from time to time, received friendly letters fr.un tho British
authorities, and that the Wahabi Government oonsiders a frieudly letter to bo synonymous
with a Treaty agreement."
“ Before leaving, the Wahabi Envoys explained to me that the present Wahabi Amir
had many enemies, and difficulties to contend with, and trusted that I would not credit report*
that might be made to his prejudice. I replied, that I was well aware of the critical position
of the Wahabi Government, and knew that it had powerful enemies, as well at home as
on its frontier, and these difficulties appeared to me as supplying additional reasons for tae
Wahabi Government remaining peaceably within its own territories and consolidating list .
For tho rest, if the Wahabi Amir desired any further communication,^ he could foiwar i in
writing, when it would be duly transmitted by mo to higher authority.”
117. Tho Government of India expressed the following views
Felly’s report in their letter No. 002
Politic*! A., June 1666, Mo. 66. dated 11th Juno I860, to tho Bombay
Government