File 4684/1913 'Pt 1 Muscat rebellion' [‎90r] (188/332)

Telegram R., No. 94, dated the 19th (received 20th) April 1914.
From—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. , Maskat,
To—The Foreign Secretary, Simla.
Urgent. Your telegram No. 423 of 9th April and Government of India
telegram No. 207 of 12th April. French Consul indisposed, and I have not
been able to see him.
Following is result of interview I had with Sultan on 16th April when
I informally mentioned subject-matter of your obove-mentioned telegram
under 4 : Firstly, His Highness said he knew nothing whatever about the visits
on 3rd April last of Ali Bin Salim and Abd-el-Azix to French Consul, but he
promised to make immediate enquiries. In this connection His Highness told
me that on His Highness’s return to Maskat recently from Barka, French Consul
sent a letter to meet him on board in which he referred to the reported intention
of Sultan to advance into the interior and requested him to see that no injury
was done to property and family of Abd-el-Aziz who reside there. His High
ness said he had not replied to letter. He added Abd-el-Aziz gave news to
Imam and wrote disparagingly about the British Government and Sultan to
curry favour with Imam and thus secure safety of his family and property.
Sultan also informed me that French Consul received a letter from Imam on
14th April complaining that British Government had bombarded Barka with
out any warning and that this was most irregular. This letter, His Highness
said, w r as delivered to French Consul by American Vice-Consul Mohomet Fazal
and that French Consul replied verbally that he could do nothing in the
matter. Sultan added there was also a letter for me from Imam. This letter
however has not been delivered to me yet. I am making enquiries about it.
Secondly .—I emphasized folly of wasting money on his Arab forces and
on enlistment of unreliable foreigners from Basrah and elsewhere, and I
referred especially to his correspondence with Vali of Basrah and recruitment
of Afghans through the Chokidar of Grey’s Company of Basrah. His High
ness emphatically denied having sought financial assistance from Vali of
Basrah, but he admitted enlistment of about one hundred Baluchis from
Basrah and Mekran who were, he said, maintained for protecting his palace
and to replace similar number of his own useless and unreliable troops. His
Highness promised to discontinue further enlistment and assured me that the
money would be expended in every way acceptable to Government.
Thirdly .—His Highness said he hoped that the British force would be
sent to punish the rebels. I told 1dm that I could not give any definite
assurance on this point. I explained the object of the scheme and details of
subsequent organisation as outlined in your telegram. Sultan generally
approved of the scheme. I referred to cost of British expedition also, if one
were sent. His Highness demurred at suggestion that Maskat customs should !
be managed under our advice. In this connection he said “ I will give the
British Government Gwadur or Dhufar as compensation for expenses of
expedition instead.”
Fourthly .—As regards Levy Corps, His Highness asked how enlistment
would be done and whether his own Maskat subjects who were anxious to
serve would be enlisted. I said enlistment would be under British officer and
that probably nucleus of selected Baluchi or Brahui would be first established,
with which it might subsequently be possible to mingle some selected men of
his own. His Highness approved. Question of participation of Government
in cost of Corps was not raised by His Highness or myself, but His Highness
thought Zanzibar subsidy would more than cover cost.
Addressed Bushire; repeated to Government of India.