File 2902/1916 ‘Treaties and Engagements between the British Government and the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast of the Persian Gulf’ [‎93r] (196/448)

LETTEE TO HIS HIGHNESS THE SAIYID THUWAINI BIN SAID
BIN SULTAN OE MASQAT EEOM HIS EXCELLENCY THE
YICEEOY AND GOVEBNOB-GENEEAL OE INDIA DATED
2ND APEIL 1861.
Beloved and esteemed Emend !
I address Your Highness on the subject of the unhappy differences which
have arisen between yourself and Your Highness’s brother, the ruler of Zanzibar;
and for the settlement of which Your Highness has engaged to accept the arbi
tration of the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
Having regard to the friendly relations which have always existed between
the Government of Her Majesty the Queen and the Government of Oman and
Zanzibar and desiring to prevent war between kinsmen, I accepted the charge
of arbitration between you and in order to obtain the fullest knowledge of all
the points in dispute I directed the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. to send an officer
to Muscat and Zanzibar to make the necessary enquiries. Brigadier Co^hlan
was selected for this purpose, an officer in whose judgment, intelligence and
impartiality the Government of India reposes the utmost confidence. Brigadier
Coghlan has submitted a full and clear report of all the questions at issue
between Your Highness and your brother.
I have given my most careful attention to each of these questions*
The terms of my decision are as follows:—
1st. That His Ilighness Syud Majid be declared ruler of Zanzibar and
the African dominions of His late Highness Syud Saeed.
That the ruler of Zanzibar pay annually to the ruler of Muscat a
subsidy of 40,000 crowns.
3rd. That His Highness Syud Majid pay to His Highness Syud
Thowaynee the arrears of subsidy for two years, or 80,000
crowns.
I am satisfied that these terms are just and honourable to both of you t and
as you have deliberately and solemnly accepted my arbitration, I shall expect
that you will cheerfully and faithfully abide by them and that they will be
carried out without unnecessary delay.
The annual payment of 40,000 crowns is not to be understood as a recog
nition of the dependence of Zanzibar upon Muscat, neither is it to be considered
as merely personal between Your Highness and your brother Syud Majid. It
is to extend to your respective successors and is to be held to be a final and
permanent arrangement, compensating the ruler of Muscat for the abandon
ment of all claims upon Zanzibar, and adjusting the inequality between the two
inheritances derived from your father, His late Highness Syud Saeed, the
venerated friend of the British Government, which two inheritances are to be
henceforward distinct and separate.
Eokt William;
The 2nd April 1861.
I am, Your Highness’s
Sincere friend and well-wisher,
(Sd.) CANNING.