Page 87 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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would be an infringement of the declaration entered into by the Governments
of England and Eranco to respect the Sultan’s independence.
328. As regards the alleged grant of land at Jisseh, having regard to article
3 of the MaskatTroaty with Franco of 181.4, it was noecssary to make sure whether
the concession was givon to the French Government, or a company or in­
dividuals, ond what were exactly the terras of tho grant, whether it was a
lease, etc. Tho facts ascertained by Major
Ibid, No. 18C-A.
Fagan were these. In reply to a written
protest addrossed by him on 18th January 1899, tho Sultan explained in a letter
dated 19th January that “ we havo given the French permission to have a coaling
place, in tho samo way ns you had one ”. On tho 22nd Major Fagan wrote to
the Sultan saying that if ho had givon to tho French a cove in the harbour of
Maskat for coaling as to tho English, ho could easily prove it. On the 25th
tho Sultan replied that there was no covo available at Maskat except Mokalla,
that there was no difference between Maskat and other parts of his dominions
and that no greater rights had been givon to the French than to the English.
Major Fagan on tho 26th wrote to the Sultan that he did not mean to say
that the French could have a cove at Maskat, and that if the concession to the
French Government were not in contravention of the agreement of 1891, the
Sultan could produce the documents in proof. On the 28th the Sultan declined
to oomply with this request as being contrary to the custom of independent
states.
No further particulars of the Sultan’s agreement with the French Govern­
ment were ascertainable. On tho 29th January Major Fagan pointed out to
the Sultan that tho question was not the merits or demerits of tho place granted
to the French, but whether tho graut did not contraveue the agreement of 1891.
329. On the 31st January the Government of India telegraphed to Colonel
Meade that among tho demands to be made on the Sultan should of course
bo included tho cancellation of the lease at Jisseh to the French.
330. Meanwhile the Sultan had found certain causes of complaint against
the proceedings of Major Fagan. Firstly, on the 25th Jauuary, the Sultan
protested against the Agency flagstaff being placed on tho ground instead of the
roof as heretofore. It had been removed when repairs were being made to the
house, but not replaced on tho roof, because its weight would bo injurious to
the roof. This was explained to the Sultan, and it was pointed out that the
praotico at Basrah and some other places in the Gulf was to place the flagstaff
ou the ground.
331. Secondly, Major Fagan had called a meeting of the Banias and frank­
ly informed them of the Sultan’s attitude to Government and of the suspensions
of the subsidy, and told them that he looked to them to do nothing to assist the
8ullan in withstanding the just demand of Government. The Sultan on 27th
January complained to Major Fagan that ho had forbidden the British Indian
to do business with him. Major Fagan replied that he had merely informed
of tho situation and that probably they had inferred that the Sultan’s security
was inadequate.
332. The Russians were also intriguing at this time at Maskat. Major
Fagan reported on 21st January that a Russian spy was seen at Maskat
interviewing the Sultan and Mons. Ottavi and promising visit of a Russian
man-of-war and establishment of Russian Consulate. On 4th February Major
Fagan reported that there was a rumour about the Sultan’s preparing a house
for Russian representative.
333. There wa9 no time to he lost now in taking prompt measures to frustrate
the intrigues of the French and the Sultan
Secret El, Kerch 1899, Noe. 104-212.
against the British. Colonel Meade who
was still at Bushire till the 1st February wa9 ordered to proceed to Maskat at once.
He arrived there on the 7th, and after exchanging with the Sultan the usual cere­
monial visits,. telegraphed that he would deliver the memorandum, in which
the clause demanding the cancellation of the grant of Bunder Jisseh had also been
inserted, a9 soon as it would be translated. From what he had heard he feared
that the Sultan depending upon the French would probably deoliue to comply