Page 241 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

art VI—Chap. XLIV-3 219

intimation on tins subject has reached Ilia Lordship, but the opposition of the British Govern-
neat to the late course of measures adopted under the orders of His Highness the Pasha has
been openly declared. On the one hand, the Government of India in tho absence of more exact
orders as to the policy to bo followed by Her Majesty's Government at Homo must seek not
to multiply any avoidable occasions of collision, whilo at tho samo time it may be believed that
Ilia Highness would not wish to commit himself to a diroot contest with tho British power.
It is of importance therefore not to weaken the impression of our determination to resist his
plans of aggression. For effectual resistance to those plans in tho actual 6tato of the demands
for tho employment in other quarters of tho naval force at present in tho Indian Sea9, it
seems to His Lordship that some additional aid from Her Jlfajesly’s Navy would be necessary
for the special service of the Gulph, and His Honor in Council is requested to furnish a separate
report to tho Secret Committee of the means which can bo epared for that service from the
Indian Navy and of tho extent of assistance which it may seem desirablo to obtain from
England. A copy of the despatch now uuder reply and of this letter will be communicated to
the Secret Committeo by II is Lordship by tho ensuing steam mail, and 6uch instructions
applied for as the exigency of the caso appears to His Lordship to require. lu the mean time
bearing in mind the general views above indicated, I am desired to communicate such remarks
and directions as have suggested themselves to Ilis Lordship upon a review of the papers now
before him.
8. Ilia Lordship does not think it necessary to take any formal notice of the uncourtcous
conduct of the Shoik of Koweit. Captain Hcunell will no doubt bo able to mark in his inter­
course with that chieftain that his proceedings have been such as to excite the displeasure of the
British Government.
4. The Governor-General is not disposed to view tho question of our supplying our allies
in tho Gulph with arms to enable them to resist the aggression of the Egyptians in the same
light in which it would seem from the 7th paragraph of your letter of the 31st ultimo to have
appealed to His Honor in Council. Having remonstrated with Mahomed Alleo on his
supposed proji-cts of aggrandizement on the shores of the Gulph and having received positive
assurances that he harbours no such designs as those attributed to him, tho British Govern­
ment can be accused of no ollcuce against Mahomed Allee in supplying munitions of war to its
allies to enable them to repel attacks of the Egyptians which after such assurances must be
regarded as the unauthorized and unwarrantable aggressious of the Pacha’s Generals. It was
with this view of tho question as between the British Government and that of Egypt that the
Governor-General in my letter of tho 12th August last specifically authorized the supplying
munitions of war to the Chiefs of Brymee, and he is still of opinion that so long a6 the pro­
ceedings of thoso chiefs are directed solely and obviously to the preservation of their own
independence, this is for the present the most expedient mode in which tho chiefs decidedly
friendly to the British Government should bo enabled to resist the encroachments of the
Egyptian Generals.
5. The most important question arising out of these despatches which requires the atten­
tion and the decision of tho Government of India is that which relates to the position and
disposition of the 1 nmum of Muscat. This Prince has ever evinced the most friendly disposi­
tion to the British, and the Governor General deems it so essential at the present moment to
cuhivate the most intimate relations with him that the first 6tep which His Lordship would
take for the recovery of our influence on the coast and for effectually checking the encroach­
ments of the Egyptians, is the present establishment of a British ojfcer at Muscat to have the
more immediate charge, though subject to tho general superintendence of Captain Hennell, of
our political relations there, in the province of Oman, and along such a portion of the coast as
may be more conveniently controlled from Muscat than from Karrack.
6. His Lordship directs me to observe that ho considers the experience and qualifications
of either Lieutenant Kdmunds or Captain Hamerton to be 6uch as that cither of them might
properly be selected for this duty.
7. The credentials to be given to the Political Officer deputed to Muscat should in the first
instance convey little more than the assurances of the most cordial and friendly feeling on ihe part
of the British Government, and should state as tho reason for his deputation to Muscat that it is
thought highly expedient in the present state of affairs, that the close alliance between tho two
States should be made clearly apparent aud that tbc lmaura should have near his person a con­
fidential and capable Agent, with whom he may consult or through whom he may fully aud
instantly communicate with the Government in India in any difficulty. It would assuredly be
the wish of His Lordship that the danger of extended influence on the part of the Egyptians
on the coast of the Persian Gulph should pass away without any exhibition of warlike inter­
ference on our part, but the tide of encroachment may come so rapidly on the chiefs of thut
coast as to induce them and particularly His Highness the Imaum to 6eek assistance from the
British Government, and as it appears to His Lordship this assistance can only be given to
him in arms and stores, in naval protection and in officers for the purpose of raising and con­
ducting a local force. To tho two first of tho*o within reasonable limits His Lordi-hip could
see no objection, but before the organization at Muscat of a military force under British officers
should be consented to, it seems to His Lordship that a clear case of necessity should be made
out and previous knowledge of many circumstances with which he is now' unacquainted should
be obtained j and though in the care of pressing exigenoy be would wish the Governor of Bombay
in Council to aot upon any proposal to this effect, he would otherwise think it absolutely
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