"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٤‎٨‎٩] (١٧٨٢/٦٣٢)

(3^;
489
Septah-
1 a BB
0^'"
r anJ^ 1
Government,
1869-70.
and instructed not to correspond directly with the Government of Bombay
unless in exceptional circumstances *
In November 1869 the Government of India instructed Colonel Pelly Discussions
regarding the
to make careful local inquiries regarding the stability of ' Azzan's posi- official re-
tion in order that the question of his recognition as Sultan of ^Oman might cognition of
.... 'Aztan by
be decided. It was felt that the non-admission of his claims reacted the British
unfavourably on the British position in 'Oman; but the case of Salim had
shown what embarrassment might result from the premature recognition
of an insecurely established ruler. The undesirability of a Wahhabi
conquest of 'Oman, whence Wahhabi influence might radiate to India,
was clearly perceived ; but it was thought that the mere recognition
of ; Azzan, while irritating to the Wahhabi Amir, would do little to
strengthen 'Azzan's position vis a vis of that potentate. Eventually the
Government of India inclined to disregard the standing danger of a
Wahhabi attack and to acknowledge the Sultanate of 'Azzaii, provided
that his power were shown to be well-established in his own dominions ;
but in February 1870 the imminence, as was supposed, of an actual
Wahhabi invasion caused them to postpone their decision. A few days
later, however, apprehension of the Wahhabis being still at its height,
they directed Colonel Pelly (then at Calcutta) to proceed to the Persian
Gulf with all convenient speed and there formally recognise 'Azzan, if in his
opinion such a step should appear to be expedient; in case, however, of
his deciding in favour of recognition, he was to reserve foi future
settlement all questions of detail, such as the maintenance of foimei
treaties and conventions and the validity of 'Azzan's claim to particulai
territories abroad. The arrival at Masqat of non-British European
Vessels which did not hesitate to admit the sovereignty of Azzan soon
illustrated the danger of backwardness on the part of the British
authorities; and additional reasons in favour of recognition weie sup
plied by the facts that the British Political Agency at Masqat had
been continuously maintained and that an apology in the " Clyde case
had been accepted from 'Azzan as de facto ruler. Colonel Pell} , howe\ei,
did not at once make use of his discretionary power to recognise 'Azzan,
and before long the opportunity for doing so as an emeigency mtasuie
had passed away.
To avoid allusion to'the^mnaT^spe^Tf these difficulties was impossible
without conveying a false impression. It is clear from the Government I ® C( ^ ^
the attitude of Colonel Disbrowe towards 'AzzSn and his strained relations with Oolone
Pelly, to whom he was only partially subordinate, v\era a pnneipa ^ f
troubles of 1869. In fairness to Colonel Disbrowe it should be ac e a , in
opinion of Government, he was not alone to blame for the differences between himselt
and Colonel Pelly.
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