File 2698/1913 'Muscat: rebellion against the Sultan' [‎193r] (394/434)

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No. 4-A., dated Muscat, 7th March 189c.
From— Colonel F. A. Wilson, 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department, 4 5
$ In continuation of my letter No. 3-A. of 28th February, I have the honour
to report, for the information of His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor
General in Council, the course of events at Muscat during the past week.
2. As regards the struggle between the Sultan and his subjects in armed
revolt, the position has not essentially changed. The Sultan has continued
to hold the forts overlooking the town and harbour, and the heights command
ing them, and has had free communication with the adjacent port of Mutrah
and the coast generally. I consider it would be quite impossible for the rebels
to attempt an attack on tlie forts without first securing the adjacent heights,
which are held by the Sultan, and for the assault and occupation of which,
their inferiority in number places them at a disadvantage. Some small
reinforcements have joined him, and he has intimated the receipt of assurances
of support from the Ghafiris of the Dhahireh. His adherents, however,
though strong in numbers have failed to improve their position within the
town. The issue of the struggle therefore remains, as far as can he judged, as
doubtful and remote as before, from an immediate military point of view.
3. On the 2nd instant a number of the Khoja subjects of Government
appealed to me with an expression of their serious anxiety for the safety of
their property. It was quite evident from all that was constantly heard, that
there was grave reason for this anxiety, and later in the day more urgent
complaints were made by some of the banian Merchant of Indian extraction. community. I was satisfied
that plunder and injury was actually occurring, and that there was the greatest
danger that this would extend, the followers on both sides being out of control.
In view of the further fact that the prospect of a termination to the present state
of things was quite uncertain, I considered that the time had fully arrived to
warrant action in the interests of the security of our subject’s property, and
that it was distinctly my duty to take action. Major Sadler, accordingly, at
my desire intimated to the Sultan that we required him to assent to a three
days* truce for the removal of the more valuable property of British subjects,
and to furnish a safe conduct to two of the rebel-leaders to meet his re
presentatives for the arrangement of its details. Ihe Sultan readily agreed,
and a similar demand was conveyed to the rebel-leader.
4. There was a cessation of hostilities accordingly soon afteriioon on the
3rd, and the same afternoon two of the representatives of the Sultan, and two
Sheikhs on the part of the rebels, having met Major Sadler and myself at the
agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , accepted the terms which we considered necessary for guarding, as far
as possible, against a violation of the truce, or danger to our people in remov
ing their property. On the 4th the British Indian traders were busy from an
early hour in transporting their goods, and the harbour was. covexed ^/th
boats. The operation did not, however, proceed very long without friction,
and the following day the tension became more acute, the wilder Bedouin
portion of the rebels crowding the bazaars and streets, and obstructing, P unc 61 ■
ing and blackmailing the traders, and being out of the control of their leaders.
This reached such a point that on the third day of the truce, 6th March, some
shots having been fired, there was a panic, and all the traders a am ouet xen
attempts to recover more of their property and left their shops an s ( J res *
may be hoped that the more valuable and portable proper y ias, 01 ,.
part, been removed, and it was evidently hopeless, botli roin e 1 r. - ,
procuring labour, and freedom of movement, as well as iom i ,
Bedouins, to remove the remainder of the more bulky goods ^
strong remonstrances were addressed to the rebels, two o 1 clearlv
again summoned to meet us at the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . It ‘^Xrtnee of tlm
impossible, late in the afternoon, to restore lie e ec
terms of the truce or to resume the rescue of proper ).
5. I took this opportunity of '•peaking very forcibly jj^jrnal
tatives, pointing out that though we had not intervened m <heu internal