"قائمة تكميلية بمواثيق إلخ، ذات طابع سري بين حكام عُمان المتصالحة والحكومة البريطانية، ١٩١١-١٩١٢" [ظ‎‎٤‎٣] (١٣٤/٩٢)

[ 2 ]
there was none. Then it was that the British Government intervened,
and said that, in the interest of its own subjects and traders, and of its
legitimate influence in the seas that wash the Indian coasts, this state
of affairs must not continue. British flotillas appeared in these waters.
British forces occupied the ports and towns on the coast that we see
from this deck. The struggle was severe while it lasted, but it was
not long sustained. In 1820 the first general Treaty was signed
between the British Government and the Chiefs; and of these or
similar agreements there have been in all no fewer than eight. In
1839 the Maritime Trace was concluded, and was renewed from time
to time until the year 1853, when it was succeeded by the Treaty of
Perpetual Peace that has lasted ever since. Under that Treaty it was
provided that there should be a complete cessation of hostilities at sea
between the subjects of the signatory Chiefs and a " perfect maritime
truce"—to use the words that were employed—"for evermore"; that,
in the event of aggressions on any one by sea, the injured parties
should not retaliate, but should refer the matter to the British Resident
in the Persian Gulf, and that the British Government should watch
over the peace of the Gulf and ensure, at all times, the observance of
the Treaty. Chiefs, that Treaty has not, of course, prevented occasional
trouble and conflict; it has sometimes been neglected or infringed
but on the whole it has well deserved its name; and under it has grown
up a condition of affairs so peaceful and secure that the oldesi among
you can only remember as a dim story the events of the past, while the
younger have never seen warfare or bloodshed on the seas. It is now
eleven years since the last disturbance of the peace occurred.