Page 79 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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Sultan's permission entertained Abdul Aziz as a dragoman of tho Consulate.
Ho thus hold a dual employment under the Sultan and M. Ottavi, which was well
utilised for frequent consultations between tho two through his medium in
matters on which tho British interests wore involved. Many a letter from
tho Sultan to tho British Consul was found to he in tho handwriting of Abdul
Aziz, and thore was no doubt that he road tho letters written by the British
Consul to the Sultau and communicated their contonts to the French Consul,
no was in fact tho confidential adviser of tho Sultan as woll as tho French
Consul.
290. When Major Fagan mentioned tho fact of this dual employment to M.
Ottavi, tho latter expressed astonishment and said, that if ho were really employed
by tbo Sultan as a Munstfi, bo would request tho Sultan to ceaso to employ
Ahdul Aziz in that capacity.
291. Whon the Sultan was ashed whether Ahdul Aziz was in his employ
lie denied tho fact; but there was absolutely no doubt that he received a
salary of 25 dollars per month from tbo Sultan from November 1895 to October
1898, while still in the service of the French Consulate.
292. In his letter No. 60, dated 7th November 1898, Colonel Meade asked
the Government of India for orders to
Beorot E.. February 1899, Not. 90-189.
urge the Sultan to dismiss from his sorvice
Abdul Aziz, as his continuance therein would bo inimical to the maintenance
of friendly relations between tho British Government and His Highness. In
his letter No. 61, dated 7th November, Colonel Meade, after reviewing the his­
tory of the British connection with Maskat, and of tho recent ascendancy
gained by tho French, expressed his opinion that the best solution of tho diffi.
culty would he to induce the French Government to agree to tho abrogation of
the Treaty of 1862, but that short of it, wo should not make it clear to the I
Sultan that we had no designs against him, but were on the contrary desirous
to improve the condition of his state and himself; that we should not interfere
with the rebellious Sheikhs in Dhofar and Sur, beyond using our good offices to
bring about a reconciliation.
293. In regard to these two letters of Colonel Meade, Lord Elgin telegraph­
ed to the Secretary of State on 20th December 1S98—
** I presume Her Majesty's Government wish to avoid complications with Franco, and
would therefore wish Colonel Meade to be instructed to abstain from 6upportiug the Sheikh
and conciliate the Sultan.”
(iii) Omission of the Sultan to hoist the British flag on the 1st of January 1898.
294. On arrival of Colonel Meado and Major Fagan at Maskat in the Law­
rence early morning 1st January 1898,the
Soorot E., April 1898, Nob. 203-201.
Sultan fired 31 guns from the fort, but did
not hoist the British flag. Tho omission was not noticed at the time. The two
officers not being on deck they assumed it was the salute hitherto fired on the 1st
January, in honour assumption of title of Empress of India by Her Majesty the
Queen. Colonel Meade received aftorwards a formal visit of the Sultan under
the impression that it was also in honour of the same anniversary. Subsequent­
ly, however, Colonel Meade was informed that the Sultan had intentioually not
hoisted the flag to show that he did not consider ho was connected with the Indiaa
Government. It was reported that he had been instigated to do this by tbe
French Consul, that it had croated an impression unfavourable of our prestige.
The Sultan was asked for an explanation. He replied that the salute had been
a New Year's day compliment to all Christian nations, not ns a compliment to the
Queen-Empress. He was then informed that tho stopping of a compliment
always hitherto accorded could only bo regarded as an unfriendly act and that a
salute must be fired at once with the British flag flyiug all day according to
custom. He complied with the request and the salute was fired on the morning
of 3rd January, the flag flying all day. It was considered desirable also to
make him further express regret in writing that he had omitted compliment at
proper time, and to give assurances that the occasion would be properly observed
in future, which was done. Colonel Meado thought that tho Sultan of