‘Précis of correspondence relating to Zanzibar affairs from 1856 to 1872. Prepared by Captain P D Henderson, attached to the Foreign Department’ [‎94r] (27/114)

CHAPTER II
Arbitration of Government of India.
20. D eputation of B rigadier C oghlan to enquire into the dispute
between Z anzibar and M uscat .—On the 14th June 1860 the Bombay Gov
ernment intimated that Brigadier Coghlan, the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Aden, had
left on the 31st May for the purpose of investigating and reporting on the
complications existing between Muscat and Zanzibar on the one hand, and
Sohar on the other. Associated with Brigadier Coghlan were the Beverend
P. Badger, a Medical Officer, and Mr. Hormuzd Bassam, the latter gentleman
being appointed as British Agent at Muscat as a temporary measure. Brigadier
Coghlan was directed to proceed, in the first instance, to Muscat, and was fur
nished with a letter to the Sultan of that place, intimating that he had been
appointed to enquire into the matters in dispute between himself and his
brother. The instructions issued to Brigadier Coghlan by the Bombay Govern
ment were contained in a resolution dated 16th April 1860, of which the fcl-
lowinsr is an extract:
O
" Resolved that the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. be informed that this Government unreservedly
grants to him authority to investigate and report, for the information of the Supreme Govern
ment, on the relative positions of the rulers of Muscat and Zanzibar. It will be the duty of
the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. to ascertain what are the exact rights of the one in relation to the other
by religious law, family customs, specific instrument, or force of circumstances. Having 1 arrived
at a conclusion on this question, it will remain for the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. to consider whether
it is actuallv necessary that exact rights should be recognized, whether peace and tran
quility may not more effectually be secured by inducing the antagonist parties to make
mutual concessions, whether judicious compromise will not be of more real benefit to the
interests of all concerned, both rulers and subjects, than any rigid adherence to pretensions
based on exact rights. In other words, it will be for the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. to ascertain what
U riyht and what is expedient, and whether the parties can be induced partially to concede the
• me for the purpose of permanently securing the other.
" The Ri^ht Hon'ble the Governor in Council considers that the whole question is open
to the investigation and discussion of the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. ; that it is the sole desire of the
supreme Government to administer justice between the contendin<r parties, and that that
hi^h authoritv will gladly av:iil itself of any facts or considerations which Brigadier Coghlan
rnay be able to contribute towards the solution of existing complications.
"The question of guaranteeing: to the Imam his Arabian possessions is one on which the
Riu'ht Hon 'ble the Governor in Council would wish to be favored with the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. 's
opinion. The Right Hon 'ble the Governor in Council is not aware whether any necessity
exists for the grant of suoh guarantee, but the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. may be requested to
examine and report on the general question."—f Proceedings, Jjjril 1660-61, Nos. 26-29.^
21. B rigadier C oghlan's report. S ubordination of Z anzibar to
M uscat .—Brigadier Coghlan submitted two reports of his proceedings, the
first, dated 4th July 1860, written after visiting Muscat and previous to his
arrival at Zanzibar ; and the second, dated 4th December I860, on the conclu
sion of his labors. The first contained a statement of Syud Thoweynee's
case, as represented by himself, and also the result of Brigadier Coghlan's
enquiries in IVIuscat. A great portion ot the matter contained in the cailici
is embodied in the later report, which treats as a whole ot the subject in dis
pute between the two brothers. Previous to commencing his enquiries at
Muscat and Zanzibar, Brigadier Coghlan obtained from Syed Thoweynee and
Sved Majid a bond consenting to submit their case to the arbitration of thn
Governor General, and expressing their entire willingness to abide by His
Excellency's decision in the matter. A statement of their respective cases
were also submitted by the two brothers. The first point touched upon by
Brigadier Coghlan was the position of Zanzibar with regard to Muscat.
19