Page 14 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

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In tho ports and territory of Musc.it itself this
predominance has been accentuated by the facts
that the trade of tho British dominions with
Muscat amounts to about live-sixths of the entire
trade of the country; that the latter is almost
exclusively in tho hands of Indian traders, who
aro British subjects; that the commerce and
interests of any other country aro relatively
insignificant; that the share of the trade enjoyed
by the three other PoweYs with whom Muscat
has direct Treaty relations, viz., America, Prance,
and Holland,* amounts, if added together, to less
than ouc-scvcntecnth of tho entire trade of the
country.
The relations of amity which have been above
recorded culminated in 1891 in an Agreement
voluntarily entered into by Sevyid Foysal-bin-
Turki, G.C.I.E., tho present Sultan, following
immediately upon tho conclusion of a new
Commercial Treaty between Great Britain and
Muscat, by which ho undertook never to cede,
to sell, to mortgage, or otherwise give for occu­
pation, save to tho British Government, tho
dominions of Muscat and Oman or any of their
dependencies.
In 1891 a French Vice-Consul was appointed
at Muscat, and this official made it his first aim
to alienate the sympathy of the Sultan from
Great Britain. The action of France was believed
to be inspired to a large extent by Russia, who
was credited with designs of an aggressive naval
policy in the Gulf. It would be tedious to retail
the circumstances under which this action was
exerted. Suffice it to say that matters reached a
crisis in 1899, when it transpired that an Agree­
ment had been concluded with the French
Government, in Maroh of the preceding year, for
tho lease of a coaling station at Bunder Gissch,a
place 5 miles south-east of Muscat.
This action was held to constitute a violation
of the Agreement of 1891 with Great Britain.
Owing to this and the breach of other Treaty
stipulations, and of personal assurances formally
entered into by the Sultan, a Memorandum was
presented to him on the 3rd February, 1899,
by tho Government of India, which, after re-
• Tho dutes of the respective Treaties are: United States
of America, 1833; Franco, 1841; Netherlands, 1877.
An Arrangement respecting trade juiisdictioa, wrecks, &c.,
was concluded by tho Portuguese Governor-General of
Mozambique in February 1826.