Page 86 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

70

CHAPTER XVIII.
The Rupture, 1899-
324. Wo now arrivo at a critical stage in the history of Maskat. If the
Fronoh should succeed in establishing a coaling station at a good harbour like
Jisseh, wo should soon have an important naval base in the hands of that
power in alliance with Russia, which would ho a serious menace to. our
predominant position not only in Oman, hut in the Persian Gulf and might as
woll ho dangerous to our Indian Empire. To prevont the French from taking
hold of the grant was the first step to he taken ; for once in possession of it, it
would he vory difficult to oust them from the place.
325. The Commander of the Sphinx, at the request of Major Fagan, left
accordingly an officer and a boat’s crew at Jisseh with instructions to hoist
tho British flag in the event of the French man-of-war appearing on that
harbour in his absence. Major Fagan also proposed to stop tho monthly
payment of tho subsidy to tho Sultan : the subsidy for December had not yet
Tel'Rram from Secretary of State, dated 20th been paid. The Secretary of State, whoso
January 1809. instructions wore asked, approved of tho
Seorat E., February 1899, Noi. 90-159.
orders given as to the hoisting of the
British flag at Jisseh in tho contingency apprehended but in the sense that the
act would not mean appropriation of territory, but would have, as its object,
the prevention of infringement of arrangement of 189], under which Maskat
can give or cede for occupation its territory only to the British Government.
The Secretary of State also agreed to the suspension of subsidy ponding further
enquiry into the French concession.
326. Meanwhile Colonel Meade had been ordored to proceed to Maskat.
On the 25th January the Redbreast left Bombay for Maskat. On the samo
date the Secretary of State wired that the Sultan might be reminded—1st,
of his formal recognition by the British
Ibid, No. 169.
Government notwithstanding the claims
of his uncle and rival Abdul Aziz, who had hitherto been prevented from
leaving India; 2nd, that the Zanzibar subsidy was conditional on the Sultan
continuing faithful in fulfilling engagements and manifesting friendship towards
the British Government; 3rd, that the British Government in 1895 warned
Abdullah bin Saleh to cease from attacking the Sultan and had repeatedly
used their good offices to uphold his authorily. Ho might also be warned
that, in the event of unfriendly attitude on his part, diplomatic and military
support would be withdrawn and might possibly take another direction. If
anything else was necessary, such as removal of Abdul Aziz, the Government
of India could demand it on the authority of the Secretary of State’s telegram
of 3rd January (see paragraph 321 above).
327. In pursuance of these instructions a telegram was addressed on 28th
January to Colonel Meade, who was
Ibid, No. 173.
expected to have arrived at Maskat at the
time, directing him to translate and read to the Sultan in Arabic, leaving a
copy with His Highness, a memorandum drawn up by Lord Curzon, in which
the services rondered by tho British Government to tho Sultan were enumerated
and the obligation he was under to them poiuted out, and the following demands
were directed to he made on His Highness
(i) u dismissal of Abdul Aziz from all or any employment, either now or at any
future period |**
(ii) 11 the payment of interest at 5 per cent, from the present date on the sums .remain­
ing to be paid for distribution to British subjects as indemnity for losses incurred
in the insurrection of 1895 ;**
(iii) '* the cession of tho levy from British subjects in any part of Your Highness*
dominions of any tax on merchandise, which is not levied from His Highness
subjects ;**
(iv) *' the reduction of all import duties to the rate of 6 per cent, ad valorem, and the
reduction to 5 per oent. of tho tax on dates brought from the interior for
exportation.*1
It was further to he demanded that in order to prevent the infringement of
his rights, the Sultan should adopt a distinctive flag for use by his subjects
and should explain to them that thereafter the use by them of a foreign llug

■ ■ n