'Précis of Maskat affairs, 1892-1905; In two parts: Part I 1892-1898; Part II 1899-1905 By J A Saldanha, BA, LL B' [‎66] (84/176)

66
306. On 26th September 1898, news was received that the Jeneheh had
cut off supplies of the garrison of the old fort. On the 4th October, 600 of the
Jenebeh tribe, with 150 Beni Rahsib and 200 Beni Bu Ali attacked the old fort,
which surrendered on condition tbat the garrison with the GoverDor's son
were sent to Maskat. Works of the new fort were also destroyed. The Jenebeh
refused to admit the new Governor sent by the Sultan—Hamid bin Saif—
until the British Government gave a guarantee against re-appointmenfc of
Suleiman and directed customs farmer to withhold customs (but not punitive
tax) from the Sultan. Mahomed-bin-Hamid was, however, able to take
peaceable possession on 2. p )th November of the old fort, which was found disman
tled except the bare walls.
307. What is important to note in connection with the French intrigues
in this case is that when once the Sultan decided to commence hostilities
against the Jenebeh, a letter was drafted informing the British Consul of the
fact and requesting him to warn the British subjects to leave Sur. But Abdul
Aziz prevailed upon the Sultan to sign a similar letter to the French Consul,
which, as shown by the Vazir Sayyid, Said would have the effect of acknowledging
that the Sultan's subjects, flying the French flag, were under French protection
while residing in his dominions. The letter was then, in the absence of the
Abdul Aziz, so worded as to show that the notice was only intended for bond
fide French subjects who might happen to be at Sur. As, however, there were
no such^ subjects at all at Sur, the letter might be understood as a tacit
recognition of the French protection over certain of the Sultan's subjects.
(viii) Refusal of the Sultan to accept a British Official to manage the Customs.
SOS. The administration of Oman had been for many years in a chaos. The
secret e., march 1899, nos. 60-65. restless Arab tribes in the interior could
Meade ' No - 62 - A ' dated not be kept under the least check by His
„ . . ... Highness. He could pacify them for a
time by oiiering subsidies. For the funds for this purpose he depended partly
upon the British subsidy and partly upon loans borrowed from the Banias.
He was indebted to the Banias to the extent of nearly 190,000 dollars at the
commencement of the year 1898. Further he obtained advances from the far
mers of the Customs—Katansi Purshotam and others—on the securitv of the
customs. J
309. The Government of India advanced the Sultan a loan of Rs. 60,000
See Chapter VII, ante,
in June 1897 with the special object of
i • 'x x - enabling His Highness to repav debts
beanng exorbitant interest. But a large portion of this was diverted by the
Sultan for his own personal use.
31°. With a fair and careful administration of the customs, the revenue
therefrom could be almost doubled and the Sultan would be tree from his in!
debteduess to the Ban,as. The Government of India offered the services of a
tL 'lV^tefr :e of fntmim" rpr|fe ' 13111 tlu - offer was declined by the Sultan, as
the system of farming was a convenient one and enabled him to obtain
advances from the farmers whenever he wanted loans.
311. Major Fagan was therefore of opinion that the Government of India
should advance loans to the Sultan not on the security of the subsidv but on
that of the customs, and that the subsidy also should be stopped as long as he
continued to remain obdurate on the question of the customs S
« 3 ! 2 ;. Tl : e , questioa was als0 raise ' i whether, it the Sultan of Maskat could
swlei e.,'m«"h i899,'HoTe l M6.' 56 induced to give to the Government of
this course could be held to infringe the proWsio^Tf T'T''
llTjanna^'lMsf 11 I^L Ys Ma r ch1862 (Viceroy's telegram'dated
oontrrf of the Si's ^ ft
compatible with the independence of the 801^0° MasLt Ir l S r areel - V b , e
by the Declaration in/question and would certafn y t Ve L to ~
trances on the part of the French Government. It wasf hfweve"^0^";