Page 76 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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CHAPTER XVI.
Causes of Sayyid Faisal’s Hostility to the British.
273. Sayyid Faisal never appears to have been well disposed towards the
British from the very first. As early as 1891, Colonel Mockler, Political Agent,
Maskat, reported very unfavourably of His ways, and described him as “ impa­
Secret K.,Joly 1801. Nnj.G0.7O. tient of the obligations attached to the
F*dr nlto pnr»jjr»|ili - Chapter I of this Precis.
position of a sovereign under treaty en­
gagements ” (Demi-official of Colonel Mocldcr to Major Talbot, dated Oth March
1S91).
27*1. BOur failure to assist him in turning out the rebels out of Maskat and
Matra and afterwards making him responsible for the compensation claimed for
the loss caused to the British Indians, seem to have boon deeply resented by him.
fWlicn the A1 Kathiris rose in rebellion in Dhofar in 1895, the Sultan evinced
no readiucss to accept our assistance, probably because he suspected our
motives, and though he acknowledged our services in suitable terms, it is doubtful
whether the gratitude bo expressed was a genuine one. Further the officious
and uncalled for interest taken by Major Fagan in a sequel of this rebellion
must have gone far to strengthen his suspicions against the British policy.
It will bcDeeessary to go into some details of the incident in question to under­
stand the position.
275. Tho insurrection of the A1 Kathiri tribo in Dhofar was led by Sheikh
Salim bin Hamad-al-Mabruni and his cousin Sheikh Umar-bin*Abdullah-al-
Maliruni. In this rising a son of the Vali Suleiman-bin-Suvcilim was killed.
Tho expedition sent by tho Sultan failed to recovor Dhofar, and it was only
in IS97, when the Maskat forces aided by the presence of H.M.S. Cossack
and the R.I.M.S. Lawrence by sea and tho intervention of Colonel Wilson
and Captain Boville, that matters were arranged and peace was restored. It
appears that a promise of pardon was made to tho rebels in the name of tho
Sultan by his brother Sayyid Mahomed Turki, These assurances of pardon
were confirmed by Colonel Wilson and Captain Boville, and Colonel Wilson
urged the rebels to submission relying on these promises and his good offices
with His Highness in their favour.
276. In May 1898 Sheikh Salim was arrested and imprisoned, probably at
tho instigation of Vali Suleiman in revengo
Secret E., Norcmber 1898, Nos. 200*227.
for the murder of his son. When Major
Fagan heard of this arrest ho asked the Sultan on 12th May the oause thereof.
His Highness replied that it was for certain transgressions that had been reported
against him. Major Fagan then reminded the Sultan of the promises made for
the pardon of the rebels and 6aid (letter dated 1st May)—
“Unless therefore Your Highness is able to show that Salira-bin-Haraad-al-Mahruni had
committed some specific criminal offence since the time of the restoration of Dhofar to Your
Highness, I must ask Your Highness to release the Sheikh at once.”
277. The Sultan replied that the Sheikh had committed offences, which
had led to bloodshed and that the security given no more applied. Major Fagan
Major Fazauto Colonel Meade, No. 208, dated thereupon visited the Sultan in his uniform
2cth May i8t*8. and reiterated his demand, and when His
Highness stated that the Sheikh stood charged with a serious offence com­
mitted after the restoration of Dhofar, the Political Agent insisted on a public
enquiry being held, which the Sultan did not consider necessary.
2?8. Soon after Sheikh Umar was also arrested and thrown into prison, on
some other charge. Major Fagan thought that the charges were concocted by
Wali Suleiman and asked Colonel Meade for authority to demand the release of
the two Sheikhs (letter No. 238, dated 25th June 1898). Colonel Meade,
however, thought that Colonel Wilson’s statements to the Dhofar rebels did
not amount to a guarantee of the Sultan’s promises or engagement to protect
them from oppression. Any such guarantee or engagement would have requir­
ed the sanction of the Government of India and consent of tho Sultan> as they
• Vide Cbiptar V ante.
f Fide CLoptcr VIII ante.