Page 50 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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utti'aleral aotion of this nafurc in rospcofc of the existing agreement between
Great Britain and Franco to re?poet tho independence of Maskat. Lord Salis­
bury briefly gave tho history of recent rebellions on Oman as well as Dhofar
referred to the warning given to the Oman Sheikhs against attacking Mattrah
and Maskat, and assured that the action proposod to be taken in case of the
Dhofar rebellion “ implied no intention on the part of Her Majesty'8 Govern­
ment of establishing any protectorate over Maskat or any departure from the
engagements taken in the declaration of March 10th, 1862, to respect the indc-
penditice of Maskat ” (Lord Salisbury’s letter to Lord Duller in, No. 183* A.
dated 27th May 1690). *
150. Colonel Wilson on his arrival at Maskat on 14th January 1897, had an
mj.no, 12. interview with tho Sultan. His High-
ness pressed tor tho assistance of a man-
of-war for the recovery of Dhofar, but firmly insisted on bis employing Sheikh
Suleiman bin Suwcilim to restore and maintain bis authority there. Coloucl
Wilson after discussing the situation with tho Sultan, recommended tho sending
a man-of-war on the same conditions as wero proposed the previous year, the
Politioal Agent accompanying and having the controlling voice in the negotia­
tions with the local Sheikhs (Colonel Wilson’s No. 2-A., dated 19th Jauuary
1897J.
151. Tho Viceroy wished to comply with the request accordingly but re­
ferred tho matter to the Secretary of State witli reference to Lord Salisbury’s
letter to Lord Dufferin, No. 1S3-A., dated 27th May.
152. The Secretary of State replied on lOfch February 1897 :—
“ Lord Salisbury has no objection to oourso proposed, but calls attention to the import­
ance of the agreement of 18(52, being carefully borne in mind and of nothing being done,
whioh could imply any encroachment oo independence of Sultan. Pleago warn your Agent to
deal considerately and discreetly with any difficulty with French Consul which may arise/'
(v) Insurrection broaght to an end through British intervention.
153. The Government of India accordingly instructed the Political Resi­
Colonel Wilioo'a No. 27. dated 25tb March 1897. dent in the Persian Gulf that we wero
Ibid, No. 67. prepared to comply with tho Sultan’s re-
quest for the assistance of a man-of-war, but that this assistance would be
limited to supporting, by guns from the anchorage, the advance of His High­
ness’s troops if, after 48 hours’ notice, the Saltan’s authority was not recognized,
and we at the same time communicated to Colonel Wilson tho desire of Her
Majesty’s Government that the importance of the Joint Anglo-French Declaration
of 1862 should be carefully borne in mind ; that nothing should be done which
could imply any encroachment on the independence of the Sultan ; and that any
difficulty which might arise with the French Vice-Consul at Maskat should be
considerately and discreetly dealt with. Our views as to the policy to be adopt­
ed at Dhofar were explained by Colonel Wilson to the Sultan, who expressed
bis general concurrence. H. M. S. Cossack was thereupon ordered to proceed
to Maskat.
154. After a final interview with the Sultan, Colonel Wilson sailed for
Dhofar on the 12th March in the R. I. M. S. Lawrence, accompanied by the
Cossack carrying the Political Agent, Captain F. G. Beville, with Sheikh
Hamad-bin-Nasir, Wali of Mattrah, the Sultan’s brother, Sayyid Mahomed,
and about 70 followers. The Sultan’s main force of 300 men had been sent on
in advance. The former Wali of Dhofar, Sheikh Suleiraan-bin-Suweilim, was
temporarily absent from Maskat and the Wali of Mattrah was provisionally
placed in charge of the Sultan’s interests. The Resident considered tho selec­
tion a good one and the absence of Sheikh Suleiman not inopportune.
155. On arrival off Dhofar on the 16th March, Colonel Wilson found the
Turkish flag flying over a tower near the beaoh and from a flag-staff at Murabim.
He addressed the leading Sheikhs by letter, explaining the object of his visit
and inviting them to a meeting with Captain Beville on shore. A long inter­
view followed at which the Sheikhs reiterated their complaints of oppression
by Suleiman-bin-Suweilim, but proposed submission on certain conditions.
When informed that these conditions were inadmissible, the Sheikhs first