Page 93 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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Tho capital of tho State of Oman lies itself outside tho Porsian Gulf ; but tho dominion
of tho Sultan, which face towards British India on tho one side, oxtond on tho other t«> the
southern shores of that sou, and adjoin tho tciritory of tribes with nil of whom tho British
Government has for years enjoyed troaty relations. The subjects of the Sultan of Maskat
trado in British ports ; they havo fow relations]'with foreigners save with British subjects ; no
othor European Power is anythin-* to them but a name. What psnsesat Mask at is tho talk less
of tho tribos of Eastern Arabia, than it is of (he population who throng the wharves of Karachi
and Bombay. Neither tho actions of tho Sultan nor tho destinies rf his country therefore
can bo considered in isolation from the physical and political environment to which they
appertain. If on tho ono hand tho connection with British India is as oloso as it has been
sliowutobo, on tho othor, or Persian side, it is by British efforts, and by British efforts
alone, that those seas havo been pacified, their waters survoyod, their commerce developed,
and their security assured. It is impossible in cur opinion that this two-fold association of
tho State of Maskat should be ignored, or that the result8 of a century’s laborious service on
tho part of Great Britain should be thrown into jeopardy by an interference dictated by other
reasons, and dovoid of any apparent connection with tho locality itself.
3-19. On 28th February Major Fagan visited the Sultan and latter promised
to carry out tho wishes of Government about Abdul Aziz, but on 1st March the
Sultan again received Abdul Aziz. Mona. Ottavi saw Major Fagan and tried
unsuccessfully to get him to withdraw his objections to Abdul Aziz dealing
with tho Sultan.
350. The British Law Officers on being consulted by tho India Office held
(1) that declaration of 1862 did not require the British Government to abstain
from exercising predominant influence in Maskat, so long as that influence was
not exerted in a way inconsistent with independence of Maskat; tho subsidy, and
the terras on which it was made payable involved no broach of declaration;
(2) that the British Government would be justified in punishing and even
deposing a particular Sultan who broke engagements with tho British Govern­
ment, the consent of France not being necessary. It would boa breach of declara­
tion if after deposition a Sultan were set up who was not independent. The
Sultan could not consistently with independence of Maskat be compelled
to accept ministers and advisers acceptable to British Government.
351—359. Tho Secretary of State wished to know how Major Fagan had
proceeded to insist on Sultan’s not receiving Abdul Aziz. The Viceroy stated in
reply in his telegram dated 14th March that the Sultan was not required not to
receive Abdul Aziz. Tho Sultan apparently wrote spontaneously to M. Ottavi
that he would not receive Abdul Aziz. The latter had been regularly paid by
8ultan from November 1895 to October IS98. Major Fagan reported on 14th
March that the tribes inflamed by Abdul Aziz wrote to the Sultan offering their
assistance acainst British. On the 7th March tho French Cousul iuformed the
Sultan that France and England had arrived at a settlement; that France had
secured from England an assurance that tho independence of Maskat would be
reBpocted and that no objection would now be raised by the British Government
to grant coal-depdt by the Sultan to France. The French Consul stated that he
would not press the Sultan to receive Abdul Aziz. After this visit the Sultan's
attitude improved, but the subsidy was still withhold.
360. On 12th March Sultan paid tho first friendly visit ever paid by him to
the Political Agent at tho Agency. Bis attitude was improving daily. Major
Fagan informed the Sultan that there would be no objection to the French
having a coaling shed in Maskat harbour similar to the English, no political or
territorial rights being involved, provided tho Briiish Government was consult­
ed as to the situation and condition aud assent given and tho proposal from the
French Consul was submitted to Major Fagan in writing.
361. The Political Agent was directed by Colonel Meado in his letter No. 35,
dated 26th March 1899, to bring the necessity for distinctive Maskat flag to
8ultan’s notice. Tho Sultan appeared to be under the impression that recent
action of the Indian Government was about to be repudiated by Her Majesty’s
Government. The Sultan enquired if similar advice about flag had been given
to Zanzibar and said he would consult tho Jonebeh. The Government of India
pointed out that Zanzibar was a British
Becr«t E., June 180S, No. ISO—126.
protectorate and that in the recommend­
ation of use of distino ive fl:tg tho Sultan, should see a re cognition of his posi­
tion which in his own interests he would do well to accept (letter to the Kosident,
dated 3rd June lb69).
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