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611. There were in 1903 rumours that Sayyid Faisal was anxious to abdi­
cate in favour of his son Taimur. Wlion therefore Lord Curzon proposed to
invest tho Sultan with tho insignia of G. 0. 1. E., His Highness was given to
understand that lie (Lord Curzon) expected that His Highness would in this
matter of his proposed abdication place himself entirely in tho hands of His
Majesty’s Government and under no circumstances take any further step in
that direction except under their advice and with their concurrenoe. Tho
8ultan explained that until lie received tho acquiesconco and assuranco of support
in the matter of tho succession of his son, ho certainly would tako no stops to
carry out his idea of abdication.
612. Sayyid Mahomed Turki had recently shown himsolf rather jealous
of the attention bestowed upon the Sultan's son Taimur. It was Taimur that
was sent to represent His Highness at tho Delhi Darbar, and at tho Darbar
held on board the Argonaut in tho Maskat harbour on the 19th of November,
Lord Curzon in aknowlcdging tho Sultan’s welcoino aud expression of senti­
ments of loyal attachment to Great Britain, mado tho natural observation that
he hopod that His Dighucss would give his son Sayyid Taimur a training which
would fit him for following in his father’s footsteps.
613. When Lord Curzon returned the visit of the Sultan in the aftornoon,
Sayyid Mahomed bin Turki, who was present at tho interview with 70
Darbaris, suddenly rose about the end of tho visit and askod the Resident
whether he could have an interview with His Excellency the Viceroy. He was
told to meet tho Resident and Agent and explain what he wished to Bay. He
did this, and his complaint was that his claims were entirely ignored and that
Sayyid Taimur was put forward as heir to the Sultan. He said that Sayyid
Turki had been given to understand on his death-bed, that the British Govern­
ment would stand by his sons. He complained when he visited the Rardinge
on its arrival at Maskat as head of the deputation sent to welcome the Viceroy,
only a salute of 13 guns were fired, that Sayyid Taimur was sent to the Delhi
Darbar instead of himself. It was explained to him that he was not sent to
Delhi because he refused to go. As to the number of guns fired, it was
against the usages of the British Navy to have fired any salute at all to a
deputation or official of the Sultan; during His Highness’s presence at Maskat.
As to the succession Sayyid Mahomed Turki was reminded that Sayyid Faisal
being quite young yet, the question of succession to him was not likely to rise
for many years to come, and that it was very strange that having not succeeded to
the Sultanate on his father’s death, he should think of succeeding his younger
brother, who had yet a long lease of life on this earth. At the conclusion of the
interview, Sayyid Mahomed promised not to press the matter any more.