The Makran Dependencies of Muscat and Oman [‎636r] (11/14)

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Enclosure No. 8.
Telegram dated 3rd November 1871.
From—Political Secretary, Bombay,
To—Foreign Secretary, Simla.
Dee/jfohome^fov re P ort ", t ^ t f bd > 00 . 1 made a truce with
iianomea tor fifteen days until Toorkee’s intentions are ascertained.
Letter No. 4999, dated 18th October 1871.
» » 5121 ,, 25th ,, J}
„ „ 5123 „ 25th
Telegram from Private Secretary to His Ex
cellency the Governor, dated 29th October
1871.
Telegram from ditto, dated 31st October 1871.
Enclosure No. 9.
*
No. 2537P, dated Fort William, 7tk December 1871.
AlTCHIS “h C.S.I., Secy, to the Govt, of India, Foreign Dept.,
o W. Wedderburn, Esq., Acting Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. .
I HAVE the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the several communications
noted in the margin, regarding the Mekran
dependencies of Alnscat and the movements of
Syud Ahdool Azeez.
2. In the first of these letters the Bom
bay Government express an opinion that it
rvp i\/r + i i . wou ^ of great advantage if the present
oultan ol Muscat were placed m the same position as regards both Mekran and
Bunder Abbas as his predecessor. In the second letter they observe that it is
of great importance, now that His Highness Syud Toorkee has been recognized
as Buler ot Muscat, that his power should be consolidated, and with this view
His Excellency the Governor in Council would remove the restriction which pre
vents Syud Toorkee sending vessels and men to Gwadur and Charbar. In the
opinion of His Excellency the Governor in Council, the whole matter might be
settled if the Gun-boat Hugh Hose were sent to Gwadur, and an intimation
made to Ahdool Azeez that we recognized Gwadur as the possession of the
Sultan of Muscat.
3. In reply, I am directed to state that the Viceroy and Governor-General
in Council does not see that the British Government are in any way called
upon to interfere in this matter. The recognition of Syud Toorkee as Buler
of Muscat by no means implies that everything that belonged to Muscat
in the time of his predecessor should be considered as now under His High
ness’ rule. His Excellency in Council would hesitate to send the Gun-boat
Hugh Hose to Charbar or Gwadur for the purpose proposed. It would no
doubt he advantageous if Syud Toorkee could consolidate his rule; hut it is
neither incumbent on the British Government, nor would it he expedient to
make a demonstration of force with a view to help him to do so. His Excellency
the Governor-General in Council has done all in his power to procyre for Syud
Toorkee the re-lease of Bunder Abbas from the Persian Government. In
regard, however, to Gwadur and Charbar, which were formerly parts of Muscat,
but apparently are at present governed independently by Abdool Azeez, His
Excellency in Council does not think it advisable to interfere to establish Syud
Toorkee’s rule there and put down Syud Azeez any more than in Sohar, which
appears to he somewhat similarly governed by Ibrahim bin Ghais.
4. The Governor-General in Council concurs in the opinion of the Bom
bay Government that Syud Toorkee ought not to he prevented from sending
vessels and men to Gwadur and Charbar. His Excellency in Council has no
desire to prevent Syud Toorkee from putting to sea with a view to establish his
authority in any part of his dominions that may be situated outside the Persian
Gulf.
if
1 in
Exd.—J. T. F.