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demand full payment, tut only intorest on Bums etill unpaid. Sultan indicatod hia willing*
ness to pay interest some time ago, so that trniblo in this respect ia not likely to ariso.

Tolegrnm No. 230-10. A., datoJ tho 12th February 1809.
From—-Tho Foreign Socrotary, Calcutta,
To—Tbo Political Itosidont in tho Fenian Qnlf, Maskat at.Task.
Delay in answering your telegram o£ February St Ii from Jask has arisen from necessity
of rclcronco home. You are authorised to compel
Secret K., March 1899. No*. 104-212. No. 159.
compliance with domands prosented by you, even
to length of employing Naval force, if necessary, subjont only to condition that you avoid
any collision with the French. Dismissal of Ahdul Aziz is otio of conditions of ultimatum,
but wo cannot authorise his deportation, which might raise sciious question of international
law. Admiral Douglas loft Bombay yesterday for Masknt in flagship. You should consult
him throughout.
33G. Meanwhile on tho afternoon of the Dili February an Arabic trans­
lation of tho memorandum with the fol­
Ibid No. 109.
lowing demands had been read by Colonel
Meade to the Sultan and loft with him ; the first four of which are tho same as
those contained in Foreign Department* No. 12G-E.A., dated 2Sth January
1899, with alight verbal amendments and the last added under instructions
contained in telegram,f dated 31st January : —
First-—That llis Highness do cease from employing Ahdul Aziz bin
Muhammad er Uuwahi in any capacity or purpose whatsoever, oithor now
or at any future period, and that His Highness do prohibit his beiug ever so
employed by any one under your authority.
Second—Tho payment of interest at 5 per cent, from the presont date on
the sum still remaining to ho paid for distribution to British subjects as
indemnity for loss incurred in the insurrection of 1S95.
Third—Cessation of tho levy from British subjects in any part of Your
Uighuess’s dominions of any tax or charge on merchandise which is not invari­
ably levied from all Your Highness’s own subjects.
Fourth—The reduction of all the import duties to the rate of 5 per cent.
ad valorem, and reduction to 5 per cent, of tho tax on datos brought from tho
interior for exportation.
Fifth—That His Highness shall at once, in the most public manner
possible, cancel any agreement, of whai soever description, that he might have
entered iuto with the French, or any Power other than the British Government
with the object of granting to the French, or to any othor Power, in any manner
whatsoever, and for any purpose whatever, any port, harbour or piece of land,
whatever, within His Highness’s dominions, and that His Highness would
furnish tho Resident without dolay, with a copy of tho cancellation of the said
agreement for despatch to tho British Government.
To these was added tho demand about tho flag.
337. The Sultan was proparod to accede to the first three demands at once
but as to the rest wished time for discussion. But this request was refused
and 48 hours given for the reply. On 10th the French Consul wrote to
the 8ultan saying he could not recognise tho agreement of 1891, of which the
8ultan had sent him copy, and which was contrary to declaration of 1S62; that
the agreement about the coaling place was voluntary aud could not be cancelled,
and that should difficulties arise, tho French Consul would have them removed
in accordance with declaration of ISO 2. Outlie llth the Sultan wrote to the
Resident that grant of a coaling place was not cession of territory and therefore
not contrary to the agreement of 1S91 ; ho hoped for clemency and forwarded
French Consul’s letter of 10th. On 12th the Resident replied returning M.
Ottavi’s letter and denying his right to intervene in a matter relating to the
1891 agreement. Ho reminded the Sultan that the period of grace had expired.
On the 13th Sultan sent written notice of revocation of gift of coaling place to
French and requested British protection against the French if necessary.
338. Colonel Meade telegraphed loth February:—
The Sultan, after 6omo difficulty, has signified cancellation of French agreement, and
at tho same timo expressed a hope that His
°* Majesty’s Government will support him if he get a
into trouble with Franca. I am insisting on the Sultan oponly publishing cancellation of
• Vide |'ftragioi>li 327 above,
t Vide paragraph 329 ahovo.
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