‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎469r] (936/949)

5. Gwadur incontestably pertains to Maskat and need not be referred to
again.
6. The Foreign Office can hardly desire any remarks from me regarding
the French claim on behalf of the Sultan to the whole territory of the Trucial
Chiefs and to the portions of Persia mentioned above. The means of combat
ing it are historical, not geographical. Geographically the claim is an
absurdity.
7. The question is thus narrowed down to one of the continuity of the
Sultan s possessions between the boundary
of Sharga—which I concur with Major
Cox* in placing between the villages of
* See his letter No 291 of 2n;l July 1902, para
graph 12 (Pros. Secret E„ November 1902, Nos. 7-2l).
Sba’am (Shuam) and libat (Tibba)—and the westernmost point in the Sultan’s
province of Dhofar—which is a village called Rakhyut. Three sections of
f T)ib» in this note means only Dibi proper, that
is, Hisn Diba or Southern Diba. The place some
times callei Northern Diba has a distinctive name,
Bai’a, as well. Kalba or Jhalla must not be con
founded with Khor Kalba.
[but not including) Diba, which
} Government of India’s despatch to Secretary
of State, No. 192, Secret E. of 23rd October 1902.
this long stretch of coast arc in controversy, or liable to become so. They are
Sur t a tentative claim to independence on behalf of which is now being advanced
by the French ; the littoral from Diba^
to . Khor Kalba inclusive, the title to
which of the Sharga Shaikh has been re
cognised by the British Government; and
the coast from [and including) Tib at to
the Government of India was at one time
inclined to treat as independent territory
belonging to the Shihhiyin.J I will take
these sections in order.
8. The case for the independence of Sur is a weak one, unless we ourselves
strengthen it by creating an unfortunate analogy. The French admit there
is a AVali at Sur and my inquiries show that the Sultan maintains two forts
and four smaller posts there, namely, Ilisn As Saiyid (60 men), Sanaisala
(30 men), ’Is (10 men), Jinah (5 men), Sakaikara (10 men) and Shamih
(10 men). Major Grey has promised me an estimate of the Saltan’s revenues,
which will no doubt show what he derives from Sur; meanwhile I am able to
state that in 1895 and 1896 the Sultan collected a special export tax at Sur
which yielded 8650 : this was an undeni-
other instance,, both old and recent. able act of sovereignty.§ The French
assertion that “the tribes of Sur have
never ceased to proclaim their independence of the ruler of Oman ” is unintel
ligible to us unless it refers to certan tribes of the inland Sharkiya province,
whose port is Sur and who have been in a chronic state of rebellion for years.
But how can the behaviour of these inaccessible tribes affect the political
status of Sur ? There have, it is true, been partial rebellions and a good deal
of insubordination, at Sur in recent years.
9. The claim of the Shaikh of Sharga to the strip between Diba and Khor
Kalba was fully considered before being admitted by us. Less than a month
ao-o, in a crowded assembly at Sohar which included the Suttans acting Mali
of that place, I asked which villages belonged to Siiarga. The reply was given,
without a dissenting voice, that all the coast villages from Khor Kalba to Diba,
inclusive, were under Sliarga.|] lliere
P There i 9 no need to notjee the depute between Q reas0n to recede from OUr deci-
Sharga and Fuiaira. Fujmra at the most is a . ' . . . « , r . c ,,-, Qr ,i n l'| CT
mere enclave An area of land belonging to one country and entirely surrounded by land of just one other country. , SUiirga coming down to tho coast S10U about tlllS Strip Ot COast, especially
ou both north aud south oE it. as we find that in 1886 the Sultan of
Maskat abstained from an attempt to annex .Kalba, Khor Fakkan, and Diba,
the Resident having counselled him against it. The lieneh mig i ascrije is
not pressing his claim to fear of us, but they cannot ge ovei 1C ^
Sharga has held possession for 50 years, and is generally regarded as the
owner,
10. In regard to the coast between Tibat (Tibba) and Diba, exclusive of
the latter, I have several new facts to being forward. L i ll*y
1 a