'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.' [‎146r] (296/386)

33
Trucial States A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. lias bound itself, as you know, not to enter into any agreement
or correspondence with any other Power, not to admit the agent of any other
Government, and not to part with any portion of its territories. These engage
ments are binding on every one of you, and yon have faithfully adhered to them.
They are also binding in their reciprocal effect upon the British Government, and
as long as they are faithfully observed by the Chiefs there is no fear that any
one else will be allowed to tamper with your rights of liberties.
Sometimes I think that the record of the past is in danger of being forgotten
and there are persons -who ask why should Great Britain continue to exercise
these powers ? The history of your S:ates and of your families, and the present
condition of the Gulf are the answer. We were here before any other Power,
in mordern times, had shown its face in these waters. We found strife and
we have created order. It was our commerce as well as your security that
was threatened and called for protection. At every port along these coasts
the subjects of the King of England still reside and trade. Hie great Empire
of India, which it is our duty to defend, lies almost at your gates. We
saved you from extinction at the hands of your neighbours. We opened these
seas to the ships of all nations, and enabled their flags to fly in peace. We
have not seized or held your territory. We have not destroyed your inde
pendence but have preserved it. We aie not now going to throw away this
century of costly and triumphant enterprise ; we shall not wipe out the most
unselfish page in history. The peace of these waters must still be maintained;
your independence will continue to be upheld; and the influence of the British
Government must remain supreme.
There is one respe d in which the Chiefs themselves can aved any renewal
of trouble in the future. The Biitish Government have no desire to interfere,
and have never interfered, in your internal affairs, provided that the Chiefs
govern their territories with justice, and respect the rights of the foreign traders
residing therein. If any internal disputes occur, your will always find a friend
in the British Resident, who will use his influence, as he has frquently done in
the past, to prevent these dissensions from coming to a head, and to maintain
the status quo ; for we could not approve of one independent Chief attacking
another Chief by hand, simply because he was not permitted to do it by sea, and
thus evading the spirit of his Treaty obligations. I will mentioin a case that
saems to lend itself to friendly settlement of the character that I have described.
You are all of you aware that the strip of coast known as the Baticeh coast, on
the opposite side of the Oman peninsula, is under the authority of the Chief of
the Jowasmis. Nevertheless his authority is contested in some quarters. It is
desirable that these disputes should cease, and that the peace should remain
undisturbed.
Chiefs, these are the relations that subsist between the British Government
and yourselves. The Sovereign of the British Empire lives so far away that
none of you has ever seen or will ever see his face; but his orders are carried
out every where throughout his vast dominions by the officers of the Govern
ment, and it is as his representative in India who is responsible to him for your
welfare that I am here to-day to exchange greetings with you, to renew old
assurances, and to wish you prosperity in the future.
Enclosure IV to 15.
Reply of His Excellency the Viceroy to an Address of Welcome presented to
him at Bunder Abbas on 22nd November 1903, on board the R. I. M. S.
“ Hardinge," by a deputation of the British Indian subjects and traders
residing there.
Gentlemen,- —In thanking you for your address, let me express my pleasure
at meeting here a community of British Indian subjects of Ilis Majesty the
King-Emperor, enjoying the hospitality of a foreign and friendly land, and
engaged in a trade which is equally beneficial to this country and to yourselves.
I am glad that Persia returns the compliment by sending a large number of her
own gifted and intelligent subjects to trade in the ports of British India ; for
these relations are merely the continuance in modern times of a connection