‏"ملخص الأحداث والتدابير الرئيسية التي اتخذها سمو نائب الملك اللورد كرزون من كيدلستون، نائب الملك والحاكم العام للهند في إدارة الخارجية. ‏I‏. يناير ١٨٩٩-أبريل ١٩٠٤. ‏II‏. ديسمبر ١٩٠٤-نوفمبر ١٩٠٥. المجلد IV. بلاد فارس والخليج الفارسي." [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٨] (٣٨٦/٣٠١)

38
* I would propose to 'address not
Government but Sir Charles Eliot privately.
CLxtbzonj.
for six rears and his wife declined to live at Maskat. He wished accordingly
o re urn to Zanzibar or at any rate to be allowed to go there for a few months
to see his wife and would give any guarantee that Government m.ght ask.
His Excellency pointed out that about two years ago be had moved in the
matter but without success. U e could not now promise that the Zanzibar an hon-
Ues who were not under bis orders, would waive their objections. Still, on
the understanding that Ali-bin-Salim wished to go purely tor domestic reasons
and would accept any reasonable conditions that might be imposed, he would sec*
a 1 J what could be done in the matter. Secondly,
Hts ajeays ^ g u ^ an asked that some mercy might
he shown to the Suri slave dealers, who
were captured in 1902 by the Portuguese and had recently been sentenced
to 25 years’ imprisonment on the West Coast of Africa. Some 30 had already
died and it would be better to kill them outright than to keep them m such
detention. His Excellency pointed out that the case was one of slave raiding of
the worst type, and it would be hopeless to move at present. The Sultan might,
however, mention it again before His Excellency’s term of office expired and he
would see what could then he done. The Sultan thanked His Excellency for
his replies and accepted his advice on the second question.
Maior Cox was then asked if he wi s hed His Excellency to speak to the
Sultan on any point. Major Cox suggested that it would bo well if the Sultan
were to employ a financial expert or a competent Committee to audit his accounts.
His revenue was practically provided by the Customs ; but the Sultan was in
the habit of drawing against the Customs receipts as though they were a bank
account without any enquiry or knowledge as to the balance if indeed such
existed. The result was that he never knew his income and was habitually
overdrawing. His Excellency pointed out to the Sultan that the step thus
recommended was necessary in the case of every Government and particularly
necessary in the Sultan’s case, as lie had himself told His Excellency that he
did not know what his revenue was.f His Excellency reminded the Sultan
The Sultan’s system of drawing cheques on that he had at first resisted the rcfoma of
his Customs Superintendent, whether there was a takm" his Customs Out Of the hands of
balance at his credit or not, was radically unsound, a
however honest the Superintendent might be. farmers j and yet he WOUld. DC 1116 urst
now to admit that he had profited greatly by taking the Viceroy’s advice.
The same results would ensue from the further step which the Viceroy now
proposed. The Sultan said that he could not well introduce another change
so soon. The Hiudu residents were already annoyed at losing the Customs
contract and would be set against him. Besides, he trusted his present Customs
Superintendent and, as his revenue was always in deficit, the audit of his
accounts would not help much. All would come right in the time of his son,
Sayad Timur, when the Government of India could do what they pleased.
His Excellency replied that he hoped it would be years before there was any
question of a successor to His Highness and that the matter was of the greatest
importance. If this was to be the argument employed why should not the Viceroy
postpone the consideration of the Sultan’s request until his own successor
comes. The Sultan smiled and was understood to say that he would do what
he could, and Major Cox was told to speak to him again and impress on him
the necessity for some adequate settlement of the question.
The interview which had lasted about half an hour and was entirely free
and informal then closed and the Sultan withdrew, after repeatedly thanking
His Excellency for the great honour that he had conferred on him in coming
to Maskat and inve>ding him with the G.C.I.E. He assured His Excellency
that he and his son were entirely at his orders as was his whole State, and that
he hoped again to meet His Excellency. The Sultan’s bearing throughout
the visit and at the interview was dignified, courteous and most friendly and
his pleasure at the receipt of the G.C.I E. was very marked. He wished to
come out himself in a boat at His Excellency’s final departure, but was told
that this was unnecessary.
It may here be mentioned that there was no hitch or contretemps of any
kind throughout the proceedings.