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'P. 1 733/1904. Muscat Arbitration. (1904-08).' [172v] (351/778)
The record is made up of 1 volume (385 folios). It was created in 1903-1906. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT,
E 35-30 Oman Affairs.
6. On the 22nd news was also received from Khassab that a fight had taken
place between the Kumzar and Beni Hideeyah, and on the following day His
Highness Sey^id Eeysal despatched the S. S. Sultanee to Khassab with Seyyid
Eahd, Seyyid Bedr-bin-Seif, and Shaikh Shamis-bin-Hassan to settle matters
there.
No. 36-
Translation of a letter from Seyyid Abdul Aziz, to Lieutenant-Colonel E. Mockler, Poll,
tical Agent, Muscat, dated the 1st Zil-Haj 1305=1 Uth August 1888.
After compliments. —We have received your honoured letter, dated 12th
Zil-Kaada, and you say that it appears to you that the “ meaning intended
to be conveyed by Colonel Ross is that the British Government desire that the
people of Oman may live in peace and prosperity under rulers elected by them
selves, and that the Government would co-operate towards the attainment of
that happy state of affairs.”
Learn that if the people of Oman had regulations or even sense to under
stand the advantages and honour and ease which would accrue to them from
the choosing by them of rulers who would strengthen the pillars of their king
dom, improve their country, attend to the welfare of the people and andeavour
to direct them for their good, as is the custom amongst other peoples. They
would doubtless be in the greatest prosperity and peace, such as is the desire of
the great Government; but between the desire of the English Government and
the condition of the people of Oman there is a great difficulty; for, what are
the people of Oman except miserable animals who follow any one who calls to
them, who turn with every breeze, wdio are unillumed by the light of learning
and have not through sought it the safety of a strong prop ? then how can one
expect them to have the knowledge and ability to choose fit rulers ? verily they
only flee from rulers and from laws as they would from a lion, and truly their
highest desire is that one should rule over them, who is weak in intellect, poor in
judgment, and without energy, who will neither command nor forbid, so that each
one may be a separate ruler, and engage in strife and the spreading of discord,
that there shall be no one to stop them, that the strong may oppress the weak;
then will the land and its stock be ruined, and such are their doings at present
(may God’s wrath not overtake them !). I ask, how can there be expected from
people in such a condition good deeds, and the choosing of rulers fit to guide
them ? It is absurd —absurd to expect such from them—for they are utterly
wanting in good deeds and integrity, but by nature imbued with evil and strife.
And when I saw that matters had come to this pass from the abundance of
strife and the growing boldness of lawless persons, I perceived that the resus-
* This means a return to the unpleasant Metowa citation of the law of God and the SUp-
res,me - pression* of innovations, the restraining
ol the tyrant and protection of the oppressed, the direction of the people to
well doing and endeavours to secure their tranquillity and that of the country,
are the deeds which will give one most propinquity to God, and are the duty of
everyone who has the power under God’s assistance. And it is impossible for
mo to accomplish the reforms I desire at this time admits the jesting of fools
except by the sword (if one has only the point of a spear to ride on, one must
ride on it); therefore when the English Government understands my desires and
intentions and sees that I have drawn the sword to accomplish them, thev will
certainly excuse me since they will know that I only desire what is right and
to improve the condition of Oman, and do away with the tyranny and disturb
ances prevailing in it, concerning which the Government is perfectly informed
and it is impossible to suppose that the English Government, which is one of
the most glorious and is the greatest of civilized powers, should in the case of a
people who have reached the point of ignorance and stupidity and wretchedness
that the people ot Oman have now, and it is able to turn them into another
path, and give assistance for their benefit, be anything except desirous to hasten
to do so, certainly so as the people of Oman are their neighbours and very much.
t
About this item
- Content
The volume discusses a dispute between the British and French Government’s over the use of French flags on Muscat dhows and individuals dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. owners from Muscat claiming to be protégés of France owing to their vessels being registered as French.
The two governments agreed in October 1904 for the dispute to be taken to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, and the award, which was approved by the British Government in September 1905, was concluded primarily in favour of the British Government’s position. The complete award in English and French can be found at folios 135-141.The papers include reports and discussions on other matters linked to the arbitration case including the limits of Oman territory; the question of ownership of Gwadar; and the legal status and nationality of the Khoja peoples residing within Muscat and Oman. The principal correspondents in the volume include the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne); the Secretary of State for India (William St John Fremantle Brodrick, 1st Earl of Middleton); the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department (Louis William Dane); the Viceroy of India (George Nathaniel Curxon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston); the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and Consul at Muscat (William George Grey); the French Consul at Muscat (Lucien-Ernest-Roger Laronce); the French Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Paul Cambon); and representatives of the Foreign Office and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .
The volume is part 1 of 3. Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (385 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The subject 733 (Muscat Arbitration) consists of 3 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/25-27. The volumes are divided into 6 parts with parts 1 and 2 comprising one volume each, and parts 4, 5, and 6, comprising the third volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 386; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Condition: The spine has become detached from the volume and has been placed in a polyester sleeve at the back of the volume as folio 395. The sleeve may result in some loss of sharpness in the digitised image.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/25
- Title
- 'P. 1 733/1904. Muscat Arbitration. (1904-08).'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:9v, 10br:10bv, 10r:13v, 15r:28v, 30r:32r, 34r:41v, 42v:106v, 115r:121v, 135r:135v, 142r:163v, 165r:167r, 168r:170v, 172r:172v, 173v, 175r:194r, 195r:206v, 207v:218v, 220v:232r, 233r:240v, 243r:247v, 249r:298v, 301r:310r, 311r:312v, 314r:323v, 324v, 326r:327v, 333r:349v, 352r:359v, 367r:368v, 375r:376v, 383r:385v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence