'Persian Gulf précis. (Parts I and II)' [‎10v] (20/120)

the British Government, while there is nothing to show that any other Foreign
Government has ever been applied to for similar recognition. Notably in 1888,
it did not seem by any means certain that the present Sultan, Saivid Faisal,
would make good his claim to the throne. Ttiere is no reoognised law cf
suocession in Maskat. The formal recognition by the Government of India
was withheld temporarily, but on the Sultan's formal assumption of power the
subsidy, Rs. 7,200 a month, was continued to him and he was finally recog
nised in 1890. Upon that occasion the Sultan intimated his intention to
maintain to the full the same relations as existed with the British Government
in the time of his father, and to act up to all the engagements undertaken by
his father and predecessors in the Government of Maskat. He then also
pledged himself in an assurance to the following effect: " It is my earnest
desire to be guided in all important matters of policy by the advice of the
British Government and to so conduct the Government as to secure the conti
nued friendship and approbation of the Viceroy and the British Government.' ,
6. Throughout our relations with Maskat, the Government of India have
on several occasions been called upon to intervene in dynastic disputes, have
interned claimants in India and preserved the reigning Sultan from atrack,
and have given him loans to carry on the Government and discharge personal
debts and otherwise dealt with him as only a Power possessing a recognised
and effective supremacy could rlaim to act. In 1871, the British fleet actively
supported the Sultan against his rebellious cousin ; in 1877 and 1883 a Briti/li
ship defended the town of Maskat from attack by rebellious tribesman ; in
1877 the Dutch Consul requested British co-operation in the negotiation of
their treaty with Maskat, and the Sultan of 1814 communicated the commer
cial treaty wrh France regarding tariff to the British Government for
approval. In ]89i. the present Sultan voluntarily entered into an engagement
not to cede, sell or otherwise give Maskat territory to any Power except the
British Government. In 1894!-95, when the Sultan's position was threatened
by rebellion the Government of India warned the rebellioiis Suaikh to ce ise
from attacking the Sultan, and when the French Government deprecated
unilateral action of this nature. His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris was ins
tructed in 189o to state that there was "no intention on the part of His
Majesty's Government to depart from the eng igement of 1862," and in Nov
ember 1895 tlie Sultan was authorised to issue a notification warning the lead
ing Shaikhs of Oman that Government would not permit attack on Maskat or
Muttra, whatever differences might arise between the Sultan and his Snaikhs;
and in the same year, when the people of Dhofar rose in rebellion, tho Govern
ment of India enabled the Sultan to put an end to the rising. Finallv in
August 1909 when a Maskat dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. was captured by the Italians on the
Banadir Coast, the Sultan appealed for redress to His Majesty's Government,
who have come to an arrangement (February 1911) with the Italian Govern
ment on the subject. Such are the evidences of the friendly and nenevolent
spirit consistently displayed by the British Government to the Sultan, who in
tne main owes to them his present position, the means he enjoys and the
continued occupation of his throne.
7. British political predominance at Maskat has been accentuated by the
facts that the trade of the British dominions with Maskat amounts to 66*57
of the entire trade of the country, and that the latter is mainly in the hands of
Indian traders, while the French and American trade, the other two countries
who have direct treaty relations with Maskar, is respectively 2 3i and 6 , 39.
The only other country which takes any considerable amount is Belgium on
account of the arms trade which amounts to 11*02.
8. It was not till 1891 that a French Vice-Consulate was established at
.. . , __ , . Maskat. llus \Aas followed bv
French connection with Maskat. . . . . , * xiance
obtaining in lb98 the lease of a coaling
station at Bunder Jissah, which was held to be a violation of the agreement of
1891 and an ultimatum was presented to the Sultan demanding the cancellation
of the lease, which was complied with. Tne Sultan at the same time requested
British protection against the French, in case it should prove that he had incurred
the displeasure of tiie latter. When the case was submitted to the Law O.licers
of the Crown, they held (1) that the Franco-British declaration of 1862