'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎559] (702/1782)

Frencli
wtid)
ility of
undesir
render
% ^edtkt'ilf
^ 0D1
^ ^ paid on He ^
^re should a taik;^
'Oinani gnljecfe; ^
F r e ®t. in acf^;
an Arabic taDskk;:J
, was Wed to I i:
ive wsj ai a
of iiWr
between Briti?li d 'I
ission of tlie otk:.
Vice^oinI, io'
HreemeDt of 1SS1, i^
recojnisf its fiii^ 3 ®
tythepBtof«( i
Qtaril} - made, ki
]e Bntist Resideii t
cession of teiritey d*
311 at tie bw •
and enclosed 31 W
rift of a
linsttlieM®;
ureoftie^ £:
34r
559
Uth of February H.M.S. " Eclipsefrom Bombay carrying Admiral
Douglas, the Naval Commander-in-Chief, in India arrived at Masqat,
where H.M.S. " Redbreast" had preceded her.
Before the actual presentation of the ultimatum Colonel Meade had
suggested that, as the Sultan appeared to rely upon French support, the
use of compulsion should be authorised even to the extent of employing
naval force if necessary ; and this request, subject to the condition that
collision with the French should be avoided, had been recommended by
the Viceroy to Her Majesty's Government on the ground that, at the
stage which matters had reached, defiance by the Sultan of the British
power could not be permitted. Hex Majesty's Government, while they
considered that the demand for cancellation of the French concession
somewhat exceeded the limits of their previous instinotions, agieed that,
if it had already been presented, compulsion as proposed by Lord Curzon
might be employed to enforce compliance with it as well as with the
demands originally authorised.
The authority to use force, if required, did not reach Masqat, until late
on the 15th of February, on which day Colonel Meade, consideiing the
measure to be necessary, had of his own motion required the Sultan to
announce the cancellation of the French concession in public Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). as
well as by public notices ; to inform the French \ ice-Consul in wiiting
of the fact, sending a transcript of the letter to the British Resident •
to supply the British Agent with a copy of the grant to the French ;
and to signify his compliance with the other demands contained in
the ultimatum. The proceedings at Masqat weie lepoited, as they took
place, to the Secretary of State, who authorised a guarantee of support
being given to the Sultau in case he followed the ad\ice of the Biitis
Government ; but publicity in regard to the cancellation of the
concession was strongly deprecated. Colonel Meade was imm ia e y
instructed by the Government of India not to require a public announce,
ment; the orders, however, did not reach him until after the eman a
been made and complied with.
On the 16th of February, no answer to the Resident's last letter
having as yet been received from the Sultan, Admiial Douglas assume
charge of the negotiations and summoned Sai} id Faisal to meet^ him o^
board his ship at 2 p.m . Meanwhile the u Eclipse was waiped into poi
tionfor opening fire on the palace and forts ; all shipping was cleaie ou
of the line of fire ; and arrangements were made for warning the inhabit-
ants of the town and the foreign consular representatives A e er
was now received from the Sultan, showing that lie ha pu ic y 11J
the cancellation of the French grant and had informed the Frenc ice-
Consul of the same j it contained, as requested, a transciipt o
Compulsion
of the Sultan
by naval
force author
ised.
Proceedings
on the 15th
of February.
.
Submission
of the Sultan
to the British
demands,
16th Feb-
rutry.