'Zanzibar and Muscat' [‎46r] (1/2)

Zanzibar and Muscat.
These papers have come to me with the ex-
haustive memoranda of the Departmental Officer
and the Members of the Political Committee. It
is quite unnecessary that I should add to this
voluminous collection any recapitulation of the
origin and causes of the difficulties in which we are
involved. These causes are set forth in full detail
in the papers adverted to; the question is, what is
now to be done ?
1. As to maintaining the arrangement made by
Lord Canning’s Government, or through its
intercession, regarding the payment of a
subsidy of 40,000 dollars to Muscat by
Zanzibar.
2. The adjustment of the future relations be
tween Zanzibar and Muscat, and Muscat
and Persia.
3. The authority to which, in future, the Officers
connected with these States or territories
shall be subject.
4. The authority to which is to be entrusted the
control of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and the means
by which such control is to be effected.
The first appears to me,—and I somewhat regret
the fact,—no longer an open question. The Go
vernment of India has decided, and the Secretary
of State has approved the decision, to recognize
Syud Salim as the hereditary successor of his
father, Syud Thoweynee, and the de facto ruler of
Muscat, without reference to the atrocious and
unnatural deed of blood by which, unquestionably,
he obtained his position. The Chiefs and his other
subjects are said to have accepted him, and the
Government of India has acknowledged him ; this
. being the case, we must regard him, I fear, as
entitled to all the rights and immunities of his
murdered predecessor. We cannot now question
the act which has been done by the Government of
India, and approved by us. I cannot, however, but
think that we should have stood higher in the
estimation of the Chiefs of Oman, if we had hesi
tated to recognize the succession of the parricide,
as a matter of course, and permitted Syud Majid to
make some other arrangement, with our approval,
for Muscat.
For the second point, I think we might suggest
to the Government of India, to give full authority
to the Governor in (Council at Bombay, to readjust
the future relations between Zanzibar and Muscat,
and Muscat and Persia, subject to the confirmation
of the Home Government.
For the third, I am disposed to think that, point
No. 2 having been settled, the control of the future
9638 e.