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The rich Jenncbch Sheikhs residing at Sur, namely, Said-bin-Sultan,
Abdulla-bin-Sneod, and Muhammad-bin-Mobarak, aro the only persons concerned*
from whom compensation could ho oxtracted with any degree of facility ;
but in viow of our inability to deal in a similar manner with the Sheikhs of the
other tribes, it was considered inadvisable
Ibid, No. 416.
to compel them to pay. The Secretary of
State was, therefore, asked (26th November) to lot tho matter of compensation
drop; as to exact compensation from oue tribe only would possibly drive tho
local Sheikhs into tho arms of tho French.
G77. This proposal was approved by tho Secretary of State.
678. From enquiries mado it appears that 13 Europeans wore murdered
who wore all said to be Englishmen, with four natives, and appear to have
been in ono boat. Tho other boat, it was guessed, must have been lost at sea
(telegram from Political Agent, dated <Ltb December 1904i).
679. At the request of tho Government of India Major Cox submitted a
report with his recommendations on the
Secret £., Aug\ut 1006, No*. 321-310.
various points that had further arisen out
of the Masoirali incident. In reply he was told that in view of the question of
compensation having been dropped, there seemed no good reason for further
complying with the Sultan’s request for refund of part of tho coal expenses
incurred by him in the course of his trips to Maseirah, and that as regards the
rcloasc of the prisoners connected with tho affair, he should request the Sultan
to inform them and their relatives that their best way of securing their
speedy release would be for the Jennebeh and other tribes to deliver up the
murderers whom they were harbouring. Major Cox was asked to report again
on the latter point in due course (letter, dated 26th May 1905).
680. Major Cox telegraphed on 3rd June that one more of the Maseirah
prisoners had died and that the release of two others had been permitted by the
Political Agent, Maskat. Under the circumstances h« hoped that the Government
of India would acquiesce in the release. Ho was informed in reply that a
decision was deferred pending receipt of his reply to our letter dated 26th
May.
681. Major Cox forwarded a copy of a letter from the Political Agent at
Maskat, in which that officer suggested as the outcome of report called for on
the 26th May, in connection with the Maseirah incident, that for every
murderer surrendered one prisoner be released, tho prisoners not so released to
remain in confinement up to a period not exceeding three years from the date of
their incarceration. The proposals were approved, and Major Grey was instructed
through the Political Resident to inform tho Sultan accordingly, but
without mentioning as yet the intended limitation or the period of imprison­
ment to three years. A report was also to be furnished to the Government of
India on the occasion of each surrender and release (Foreign Department
letter No. 2837-E.B., dated 22nd July 1906).