'File 35/85 III A 10 French Flag Question' [‎115r] (240/610)

Quant aux motifs allegu^s pout la suspension effectuee, en 1899, ils peuvent
avoir une certaine valeur, mais ce qui est certain, c'est qu'ils n'ont et^ invoqu^s
dans rultimatum du 9 fevrier (publie dans le Memoire frangai?, Annexe V, p.
60), qu'a Toccasion de I'affaire des boutres, et pour amener le Sultan a protester,
ce qu'il n'a fait que par intimidation.
Enfin le Gouvernement de la Republique ne peut admettre le droit que re-
vendique la Grande Bretagne de faire dependre la redevance zanzibarite d'un
arrangement a conclure avec chaque Sultan, et il appuie sa protestation formelle
sur les termes memes de la sentence de Lord Canning.
SENTENCE ARBITRALE DE LORD CANNING
communlqufie sous forme de lettre 1 seyyid madjid, sultan de
Z anzibar, et 1 S eyyid T houweyni, S ultan de M ascate.
Beloved and Esteemed Friend,
I address Your Highness on the subject of the unhappy differences which
have arisen between Yourself and your Highness' brother the Imam of Muscat,
and for the settlement of which Your Highness has engaged to accept the arbi
tration of the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
Having regard to the friendly relations which have always existed between
the Government of H M. the Queen and the Government of Oman and Zanzibar,
and desiring to prevent war between kinsmen, I accepted the charge of arbitra
tion between You, and in order to obtain the fullest Knowledge of all the points
in dispute, I directed 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. to send an officer to Muscate
and Zanzibar to make the necessary enquiries. Brigadier Coghlan was selected
for this purpose, and officer in whose judgment, intelligence and impartiality the
Government of India reposes the utmost confidence.
Bridadier Coghlan has submitted a full and clear report of all the questions
at issue between Your Highness and your brother.
I have given my most careful attention to each of these questions.
The terms of my decision are as follows ;
1st. That His Highness Seyyed Madjid be declared ruler of Zanzibar and
the African dominions of his late Highness Seyyid Said.
2nd. That the ruler of Zanzibar pay annually to the ruler of Muscat a sub
sidy of 40,000 crowns.
3 rd t That His Highness Seyyid Madjid pay to His Highness Seyyid Thou
weyni the arrears of subsidy for two years or 80,000 crowns.
I am satisfied that these terms are just and honourable to both of you ; and
as you have deliberately and solemnly accepted my arbitration I shall
expect that you will cheerfully and faithfully abide by them, and that they will be
carried out without unnecessary delay.
The annual payment of 40,000 crowns is not to be understood as a recogni
tion of the dependence of Zanzibar upon Muscat, neither is it to be considered
as merely personal between Your Highness and your brother Seyyid Thouweyni.
It is to extend to your respective successors, and is to be held to be a final and
permanent arrangement, compensating the ruler of Muscat for the abandonment
of all claims upon Zanzibar and adjusting the inequality between the two inheri
tances derived from your father. His late Highness Seyyid Said, the venerated
friend of the British Government, which two inheritances are to be henceforward
distinct and separate.
I am, your Highness' sincere friend and well wisher,
(Sd.) CANNING.
Fort William, the 2nd April 1861.
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