'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎159v] (323/386)

60
given to you, Sayed Faisal; but, nevertheless, the payment has been annually
continued to you by the British Government from 1888 to the present day.
In 1890 the British Government formally recognized you, Sayed Faisal, as Sultan
of Maskat. Upon that occasion the Sultan “ intimated his intention to maintain
to the full the same relations as existed with the British Government in the time
of his father ; and to act up to all the engagements undertaken by his father
and predecessors in the Government of Maskat.” He also said—“ It is my
earnest desire to be guided in all important matters of policy by the advice
of the British Government, and to so conduct the Government as to secure
the continued friendship and approbation of the Viceroy and the British Govern
ment ’\ This was a formal assurance, which pledged the conduct of the
Sultan, and which the British Government has never ceased to bear in
mind. Sayed Abdul Aziz, the rival candidate, subsequently retired to India
and has been deterred by the British Government from leaving India since.
3. These were the great services that were rendered to four Highness
by the British Government upon and after your accession to the throne of
Oman. They were continued in subsequent years. In 1894-95 there was
rebellion against Your Highness’s authority in Maskat. In 1895 the British
Government warned Sheikh Abdulla-bin-Saleh to cease from attacking tho
Sultan. They also authorised Your Highness in Novemher 1895 to issue a
notification warning the leading Sheikhs of Oman that, whatever differences
they might have in the future with the Sultan, Government would not allow
them to attack the towns of Maskat and Muttra, Furthermore, the British
Government gave Your Highness their countenance and support when the
people of Dhofar rebelled against you, and they enabled you to put an end to
that uprising ; and they have upon many other occasions used their good offices
to uphold your authority.
4. They have on two occasions granted Your Highness loans of money to
assist you in carrying on the Government, and in discharging debts which had
been incurred by you personally. The first loan was one of Rs. 60,000 in
December 189o , and the second loan was of the same amount, and was ^iven
as recently as August 1897.
5. They have offered Your Highness the further assistance of the loan of
the services of a British officer to administer with more efficiency the customs
of Oman. This offer Your Highness declined.
6. They have consented to the adoption of most lenient terms for tho
recovery of compensation for losses incurred by British subjects in Maskat and
Muttra during the insurrection of 1893. Your Highness has been allowed to
continue payments at a rate which will not extinguish the moderate claims
made on this account against you within six years from their bein^ incurred,
although the original demand was for their‘payment in three years. And
although Your Highness was willing to pay interest upon the deferred com
pensation, the British Government have not hitherto demanded interest.
7. These are tbe evidences of the friendly and benevolent spirit which
has been consistently displayed towards Your Highness by the British Govern
ment. Your Highness owes in the main to them your present position the
means that you enjoy, and your continued occupation of the throne.
8. Notwithstanding these facts and notwithstanding the assurances which
have been given by Your Highness, you have ceased to maintain your friendship
towards the British Government, and have conducted yourself in a manner
which cannot be permitted to continue.
Your Highness admits that you have given a lease of Bunder Jisseh to the
French, in direct violation of the undertaking which you gave in 1891, to the
effect that you would not alienate your dominions or give them for occupation
save to the British Government. Your Highness employs as a confidential
adviser Abdul Aziz, who is the Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. of the Vice-Consul of France, and
whose advice is inimical to the existence of peaceful relations with the
British Government, and to the welfare of the State. Your Highness permits
thelrench to violate your independence by taking under their protection
your own subjects in your own dominions. Beyond a remonstrance against