'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.' [‎159r] (322/386)

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informed that small parcels of arms and ammunition for private use will be
rvernpted from the operation of the notification prohibiting the transhipment in
India of arms for Persian ports, provided that permission has been given by
the Persian Government for their importation into Persia, and that they are
covered by a permit signed by the Persian Consul-General in London.
5 The last question dealt with in your letter is the proposal that an attempt
should be made to obtain the consent of the Governments of Prance and the
United States of America to the total prohibition of the importation of arms
into Maskat. Upon this point the Secre-
* From Foreign Office, dated 24th March 1902. ^ g tate * f or foreign Affairs CXprCS-
ses the decided opinion that it would be useless at the present moment to
approach the French Government in the matter, unless His Majesty s Govern
ment were prepared to offer some concession in return for their compliance. There
“nlv remains, therefore, for consideration, the alternative proposal winch you
recommend in your later letter (No. 43), viz., the institution by the Sultan of
Maskat of a compulsory system of passes for exporters of arms and ammunition
from Maskat.
6 Your Excellency’s Government, in your Secret letter, No. 100 of the
26th July 1900, recognised that the issue of a notification by the Sultan institut-
ini? a system of compulsory passes, would in the existing conditions, be mad-
visable^ The relations between His Highness and the French authorities
cannot be said to have improved in the internal; and it is. m my opinion,
inexpedient until pending questions between Maskat and the French Govern-
ment have been satisfactorily settled, to encourage the Sulten to take action
which the French Government might reasonably interpret as a breach ol his
Treaty engagements with France. It is possible, no doubt, as your Excellency
contends Uiat France would not protest against the introduction of the p s
system, but the attitude of the French Government with regard
annears to me to give little encouragement to the expectation that they woma
overlook anv restriction inconsistent with their Treaty rights upon this trade.
Tam therefore Zotantly forced to the conclusion that the moment is not
opportune for the proposed step.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship’s most obedient humble Servant,
GEORGE HAMILTON.
27
memorandum.
, „ m \ ne A Your Highness of the long continued
to the rulers of Oman. ,
• a -rr/vn thp<;p favours have also been extended,
2. I have next to remind you that these la and on many su bse-
to you personally, both upon your aceessio • British Govern-
quent occasions. Upon the death of Sayed Juiki in con ti nU ed to
ment, notwithstanding ^/ lv f .“'browns a^yearwlfich had been paid to
you, Sayed Faisal, the subsidy °f 4 , 1 on t i, e government and to
your predecessors, m order to enab e y ^ wag ena bl e d to consolidate
maintain order ; and by these m e ana ., J 5 . , i, ( . en guaranteed in 1873 to
your position on the throne. This ^bsidy had been gim tQ fulfil
Sultan Sayed Turki during his rule so 1 f ? dghip tovvar ds the BritishGovem-
^nt 1 ^ WmTfg—"of the continuance of the subsidy has everheen