Page 263 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Pitrt VI—Chap. XLIX. 211

4>15. The Bombay Government strongly supported tbo proposal for a peace
in lieu of truce in their letter No. H7, dated 2-1 tli November 1852. We
shall quote their observations :—
2. Tho Right Hon'hie tho Governor in Council desires me in forwarding these
documents to observe that tho success of the maritime truce, now about to expire, has, it is
believed, been complete and that the benefits resulting from it, to all parties, undeniable. It is,
therefore, an object of great importance that the present peaceful relations maintained among
tho Chiefs of tho Persian Gulf with each other, and with the British Government, as the
acknowledged paramount jower, shall not be interrupted.
3. The Right Ilon’blo tho Governor in Council considers the proposod treaty for a peace
in lieu of a truce to be unobjectionable, and is of opinion that the execution of such an agree­
ment is highly desirable ; I am accordingly instructed to request that you will submit, for the
consideration of tho MoBt Noble tho Governor-General in Council, tho suggestion of this
Government, that it be allowed to uuthorizo the Resident to conclude an agreement on the
terms ho has recommended, using his best endeavours to carry through the rriea6uro with as
little delay as possible.
4. Should tho Government of Ind*a authorize the above course, His Lordship in Council
purposes to instruct tho Resident, in the event of tho Chiefs oviucing a serious disinclination to
such a treaty, or opposing to its conclusion, any obstacles which that officer may be unable
himself to overcome, to refer the subject again for tho consideration of Government; taking
care in such a case that the truce is not suffered to expire, but renewed for such short intervals
as may give time for a reply to tho references he may find it imperatively necessary to make.
5. The Right Hon’blc the Governor in Council is of opiuion that the usual annual presents
to the Chiefs in token of their adherence to their engagement should not be discontinued, and
be made subservient to the maintenance of British influence.
4£6. Tbo Government of India approved of the proposal.
447. An agreement was accordingly concluded with the Chiefs on the
Arabian coast to be in force iu perpetuity.
Sie Aitchison's Treaties, Yolume X.
In a letter dated 11th May 1853, Captain
Kemball reports tho particulars of the interviews be had with the respective
Chiefs on the occasion of concluding the genoral Treaty of Poace and throwing
as it does much light ou the condition of affairs at the timo, it is quoted at
length helow;—
Having this day completed the tour of the ports of Oman in prosecution of which I left
Bas6id<-re on the 3rd instant, I have the honour to report, for the information of Government,
the particulars of ray interviews with tho Maritime Chiefs on tho occasion of concludiug the
General Treaty of Peace, which is referred to in your instruction No. 447 of 31st December
last. An Arabio draft of this engagement duly authenticated by the seals of the contracting
Parties, as also an English version, arc herewith transmitted.
2. On the 4th instant the Clive arrived off Shargah, and in tho course of the day 1
received tho visit of Sheikh Sultun bin SuggarAfter reproaching the Chief with the
detention to which his protracted stay at Brymec had subjected me, I observed that having
already apprized him by letter of the li^ht in which his proceedings would be viewed by the
British Government, I had only now to rejoice that the apparent efficacy of my remonstrances
should have obviated a recourse to more serious measures in order to vindicate its policy, and
to suppoit the interests of an old and faithful ally. This allusion to his schemes my visitor in
the first instaneo repudiated, asserting on the contrary the friendship he had always enter­
tained for tho Imaum, Iu proceeding to Brymee he said he had only followed the example
of Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon and the other Maritime Cbioftains and was prompted thereto
merely by the desire to counteract intrigues which, he apprehended, they might set on foot to
injure him; but on my remarking that, if 6uch were the case, the fact of his exclusion from the
subsequent negotiations, aud tho ascendancy gained by his rival Saeed bin Tahnoou in the
Councils of Abdulla bin Fy6ul would be inexplicable, he admitted that the faithless treatment
he had experienced at the hands of the Imaum had certainly provoked him to espouse afresh
the cause of Sycd Ges Bin Azau and, in furtherance of his objects to avail himself of tho
co-operation of a party whose power was adequate to the control of the other tribes. His
Highness, he declared, when persuading him on the last occasion to join his side, had promised
him an annual donation of 8,000 dollars, but no sooner were his aims accomplished than lie
withdrew from his engagements. In acting therefore as he did, he bad sought only to obtain
what ho conceived to bo his right, and that his intentions extended no further I must myself
bo sufficiently convinced, when I considered that it would be quite as hurtful to his interests as
to those of His Highness that the Wahabecs occupied Sobar. Here I thought proper to remark
that although the British Government as a rule did not interfere in the internal concerns of tho
Arab tribes so long as their differences were confiucd to themselves, 6till, if a third party
interposed to disturb its arrangements, it could not be denied tho privilege of asserting its
views. The Sheikh then assured me that on receiving my letter he had immediately disbanded
his followers, and relinquished absolutely tho designs to which he had before lent himself; so