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aftorwarda hia expcrifincos havo opened liis mind considerably and will leave
upon him a lasting impression for good.
603. On his safe return His Highness the Sultan firod a saluto of 21 guns
as a mark of his acknowledgments to Government for their entertainment of
his deputation and this was followed by a salute of 13 guus in honour of
8ayyid Taimur.
601. At Maskat the DarbarDay was appropriately celebrated. A saluto of
101 guns wa3 fired and tho Union Jack flown from tlio Sultan’s saluting
battery from sunrise to sunset and Hia Highnoss with bis usual suit called
officially at tho British Consulate to oiler liis congratulations, as did tho repre­
sentatives of Foreign Powors. Tho members of tho British Indian communi­
ties olosod and illuminated their shops in honour of tho occasion and deputations
of the sovoral persuasions called at the Consulate to express thoir congratula­
tions and loyalty to tho Crown. A telegram was at the same time sent by thorn
to the Government of India for favour of transmission to His Majesty tho King
convoying similar expressions of congratulation and loyalty.
(iv) Visit of Hia Excellency tho Viceroy to Maskat. 18th-19th November 1903.
605. One of tho most memorable ovents in the history of Maskat, was the
visit paid by Lord Curzon to tho place
Secret E., Fcbruory 1901, Nos. 33-127.
in November 1903. Maskat ha9 been
linked to the British Government mainly by political connection of over a
century, demonstrated by a series of treaties, no fewer than niue and support
given by us to its Sultan on several critical occasions, and by commercial inter­
course, which has been mainly Indian and in Indian hands. It is not surprising
therefore the Viceroy should have desired to visit a place in which India
has an abiding interest.
606. For a description of the visit to Maskat wo shall extract the following
paragraph from the Government of India’s despatch No. 196, dated 17th
December 1903:—
Early on the morning of 18th November we arrived at Maskat, and stayed there until
__ tho following evening. During this time official
Secret E., Proceedings February 1904, Nei. 33
1*7. visits were exchanged with the Sultan, I received
an address from tho Indian traders in Maskat
territory, and I held a Darbar on board the “Argonaut” following by the investiture of
the Sultan with the G. C. I. E. Copico of my speeches to tho British Indian subjects and
at the Darbar are included amougtho enclosures to this letter. It was not necessary to say
in them anything beyond what has been said before : although the circumstances in which
the statements and assurances wore now repeated, no doubt invested them with a new and
special significance. His Highness the Sultan on all theso occasions conducted himself with
simplicity and dignity, his demeanour was that of a loyal feudatory of the British Crown
rather than of an independent sovereign, and it is clear that he trusts implicitly to the
British power for support and protection. He did not plead for any further engagements,
nor did bo seek to extract any fresh pledge. The situation and its surroundings. wore evi­
dently sufficient in his eyes to confirm him in reliance upon our friendship, and in au atti­
tude of deference to our wishes, which is not only of good omen for the future, but which
reflects the greatest credit upon Major Cox, the Political Agent whom I appointed to Maskat
in 1899, and who in little more than four years has converted the ruler from feelings of sus­
picion, if not of direct hostility, to those of confidence and regard. On the other hand, in
proportion as the desire of the Sultan to range himself, so to sppak, alongside of the Indian
Princes in their relations to the British Crown v/as made manifest, so did the incongruity of
his international position become mere apparent while the coatrudition between tho actual
state of affairs with a ruler, a people, and a trado almost ontirely dependent upon ourselves
and the theoretical status, under which France, leprcsentcd only by a Consul, with no eubjecte
and next to no trado, enjoys a treaty equality with Great Britain was such as to emphasize
the desirability of terminating with as little delay as possible a situation so anomalous
and it might almost bo said so grotesque. On the concluding afternoon of ray. stay
at Maskat I invited Ilis Highness the Sultan to a privato interview at which I
a^ked him to say anything that was in his mind. Before confeiriug upon him the insignia
of the G.C I.E., by order of Ilis Majesty the King Emperor, on tho morning of the same
day, I had stipulated that Ilis Highness should place bimsolf ontirely. in the bands of the
Government of India and should act upon their advico in respect of his desire to abdioate,
previously reported by me to you. The subject accordingly was not mentioned during the
private conversation. The Sultan raised two 6mall points about which it is unnecessary or
me to trouble you in this letter, and I spoke to him about the management of bis Customs,