"مذكرة للنقيب إيستويك" [و‎‎٢‎٣] (١٠/٥)

conterminous with Persia, involving a wide extent
of frontier, conies undoubtedly more within the
range of European than Indian diplomacy.
23. There is another point that ought not to be
omitted. I he Shah of Persia is peculiarly sensi
tive on the score of prerogative. I have always
understood that a strong feeling exists, both with
the Shah and his ministers, that it would involve a
loss of dignity to carry on diplomatic relations with
any Department but the Foreign Office. It is an
element, though perhaps not a conclusive one, in
the question of a change, that it should not be dis
tasteful at the Court where it is proposed to be
introduced.
24. If, however, I have some hesitation in ad
vocating a change with regard to Persia, I have
none^ in respect to Muscat, the affairs of the Gulf,
and Zanzibar. I concur with the Government of
India that our relations with those countries should
be placed entirely under the Indian authorities,
primarily under the Government of Bombay, to be
supervised by the Government of India, and then
in the regular course by the Secretary of State for
India.
25. Our relations with Muscat, and with the
Arab maritime Chiefs, have been conducted from
the earliest times by the Government of Bombay;
all our treaties and engagements have been made
by the Indian authorities, and, from the proximity
and constant intercourse between India and Arabia,
there must necessarily be more exact knowledge
possessed in India, and better means of forming
correct conclusions upon any points of difference
that may arise between the inhabitants of these
countries that can be available at the Foreicn
Office.
26. The same reasoning applies, though in a less
degree, to Zanzibar, and it is very desirable that
the anomalous state of things at present existing
there, in respect to the division of authority, should
cease. I he Political Agent should no longer be
permitted to correspond direct with the Foreign
Office. He should correspond with, and receive ■
his instructions only from, the Government of
Bombay. His appointment should also rest with
that Government.
27. The important point as to the unity of the
controlling authority having been determined, the
question next come what is the policy to be pursued
in the actual condition of affairs between Muscat
and Zanzibar.
^ 28. During the long reign of the Imam Syud
Saeed, who succeeded to Muscat in 1807, and died
in 1856, and w ho was a firm ally of the British
Government, Zanzibar was a dependency of Muscat.
At the death of Syud Saeed, he left Muscat to his
son, Syud Thoweynee, and Zanzibar to another
son^ Syud Majid, on condition of certain payments.
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