'Muscat' [‎17r] (31/40)

B. 12!).
Confidential.
This document is the property of the Secretary of State for India.
1901.
MUSCAT.
The connection between the Government of India and the Sultans of SeeAUchi-
Muscat dates back to 1798, when the first agreement between Saiyid Sultan ^ > r g^ tios
(who was killed in 1804), and the East India Company was executed at a time y 0 ] xi.,
when Napoleon I. was believed to contemplate making Muscat a base for p. 3P.
attacking India. Since that date material assistance has repeatedly i: been
given to successive Sultans to enable them to hold their own against the
piratical Arab tribes, as well as against their own rebellious subjects ;
treaties of friendship and commerce,! and for the suppression of the slave
trade,J have also been concluded with them on several occasions.
Saiyid Sultan was succeeded by his two sons, Salim and
Said, reigning jointly. Saiyid Salim died in 1821. Saiyid Said reigned till
his death in 1856, when he left, amongst other issue, four Sons :
Majid,
Sultan of Znnzibiir.
Thoweyni,
Sultan of Muscat,
1856-1866.
Turki,
Sultan of Muscat,
§1871-1888.
Abdul Aziz.
Salim,
Sultan of Muscat,
1866-1868.§
Harib.
Khalifah.
Muhammad.
Faisul,
Sultan of Muscat,
1888.
Fnhad.
Taimar.
Nadir.
Since his death the Government of India has. on several occasions, assumed
the role of protecting power, and no Sultan lias been able to establish his
authority since that date without obtaining the recognition of the British
Government. It was by the arbitration of Lord Canning that the dispute
between Sultan Said's sons as to the independence of Zanzibar was settled in
1861; and when, on the death of Saiyid Thoweyni of Muscat in 1866, Saiyid
Majid of Zanzibar refused to continue to Saiyid Salim and his successor the
subsidy awarded by Lord Canning, the Government of India (though they
never formally relieved Zanzibar of the liability) undertook, in 1873, to be
responsible for the sum (40,000 crowns), subject to the observance by the
11 Sultan of Muscat of his treaty engagements, and of a friendly attitude
towards Great Britain.
As regards other Powers, the United States of America concluded a
commercial treaty with Muscat in 1833, France in 1844, and llolland,
through the instrumentality of the British Hesident, in 1877. These treaties,
as well as our own, all provide for " most-favoured-nation " treatment.
In 1862, in consequence of Lord Canning's award, it was considered to be
necessary that France, having a treaty with Muscat, should consent to
recognise the separate independence of Muscat and Zanzibar. The immediate
cause which induced Iler Majesty's Government" to become a party to the
Joint Declaration which was signed between Great Britain and France on the
10th March 1862, appears to have been an apprehension of French aggression
in Zanzibar. The declaration, however, in accordance with the view of both
E.f* in 1809, 1810, 1874, 1877, 1883, 1S!>5, and 1897.
f In 1800, 1839, 1865, and 1891.
+ In 1822, 1845, and 1873.
§ In the interval between the deposition of Saiyid Salim and the accession of Saiyid Turki the
throne of Oman was usurped by Azau bin Kais, Chief of Ilostak and brother-in-law of Saiyid Salim.
He was killed in battle in 18/1.
11 There has been some doubt as to whether this undertaking was personal to Saiyid Turki;
but the India Oifice held that it was not—and, as a matter of fact, the subsidy was continued to his
successor. See Enclosures to Political Despatch, No. 6, dated 31st January 1889.
S. 13. A
Enclosure 1
in Foreign
Letter from
India,
No. 63, dated
2nd June
1890.
Pol. 344/99.
Pol. 1717/99.