'Précis of Maskat affairs, 1892-1905; In two parts: Part I 1892-1898; Part II 1899-1905 By J A Saldanha, BA, LL B' [‎77] (95/176)

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The capital of the State of Oman lies itself outside the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; hut the dominion
of the Sultan, which face towards British India on the one side, extend on the other to the
southern sbores of that sea, and adjoin the territory of tribes with all of whom the British
Government has for years enjoyed treaty relations. The subjects of the Sultan of Maskat
trade in British ports ; they have few relalionsj with foreisrners save with British subjects ; no
other European Power is anything to them but a name. What psases at Maskat is the talk less
of the tribes of Eastern Arabia, than it is of the population who throng the wharves of Karachi
and Bombay. Neither the actions of the Sultan nor the destinies cf his country theieiore
can be considered in isolation from the physical and political environment to which they
appertain. If on the one hand the connection with British India is as close as it has been
shown to be, on the other, or Persian side, it is by British efforts, and by British efforts
alone, that those seas have been pacified, their wat ers surveyed, their commerce developed,
and their security as-sured. It is impossible in our opinion that this two-fold association ot
the State of Maskat should be ignored, or that the results of a century's laborious service on
the part of Great Brit-iin should be thrown into jeopardy by an interference dictated by other
reasons, and devoid of any apparent connection with the locality itself.
349. On 28tli February Major ¥agan visited tbe Sultan and latter promised
to carry out the wishes of Government about Abdul Aziz, but on 1st IVSarch the
Sultan again received Abdul Aziz. Mods . Ottavi saw Major Pagan and tried
unsuccessfully to get him to withdraw his objections to Abdul Aziz dealing
with the Sultan.
350. The British Law Officers on being consulted by the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. held
m 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; the subsidy, and
the terms on which it was made payable involved no breach of declaration,
(2) that the British Government would be justified in punishing and even
deposing a particular Sultan who broke engagements with the 15 ntish Govern
ment, the consent of France not being necessary. It would be a breach of decla a-
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.
35^ 359. The Secretary of State wished to know how Major Eagan had
Droceeded to insist on Sultan's not receiving Abdul Aziz. The Viceroy stated in
renlv in his telegram dated 14th March that the Sultan was not required not to
receive Abdul Aziz. The Sultan apparently wrote spontaneously to M. Ottavi
that he would not receive Abdul Aziz. The latter had been regularly pai y
Sultan from November 1895 to October X898. Major Eagan reported on 14th
March that the tribes inflamed by Abdul Aziz wrote to the Sultan offering their
assistance a-ainst British. On the 7th March the French Consul informed the
Sultan that France and England had arrived at a settlement; that France had
secured from England an assurance that the independence of Maskat wou d e
resnected and that no objection would now be raised by the British Government
to ^raot coal-depot 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
attilude improved, but the subsidy was still withheld.
H60 On 12th March Sultan paid the first friendly visit ever paid by him to
the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . His attitude was improving daily. Major
Faean informed the Sultan that there would be no objection to the French
havino- a coaling shed in Maskat harbour similar to the English, no political or
territorial rights being involved, provided the British Government was consult
ed as to the situation and condition and assent given and the proposal from the
French Consul was submitted to Major Eagan in writing.
361 The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. was directed by Colonel Meade m his letter No. So,
j March 1899 to bring the necessity for distinctive Maskat flag to
dated 26t h M sultan appeared to be under the impression that recent
8U ™ of «°Xdian Gov—t C about to be repudiated by Her Majesty's
Government. The Saltan enquired if similar adTioe about flag bad been given
to Zanzibar and said he would consult the Jenebeh. The Government of India
to ZianziLc pointed out that Zanzibar was a British
Secret e ., June 1899, No. 120-125. protectorate and that in the recommend-
. 11ca n f distinc ive flag the Sultan, should sees recognition of his posi-
tiotrwbiob in bis own interestshe would do well to accept (letter to the Kesident,
dated 3rd June 1569).
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