‏"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." [ظ‎‎١‎٦‎٢] (٣٨٦/٣٢٩)

GG
in the rebellion of 1805, in respect of which the Sultan had been treated with
such exemplary consideration. The Sultan was also advised that the way to
obviate the protection of his own subjects by a foreign Power within bis own
dominions was to order them to use a distinctive Maskat flag.
9. These instructions were waiting at Maskat for Lieutenant-Colonel Meade.
After tbe usual interchange ot formal visits, he arranged to see His Highness
at bis palace on February 9th, for the presentation of the formal demands
of the British Government. Lieutenant-Colonel Meade had been directed
to demand the rescission of tbe grant of a port or harbour as a coaling station
to the French. He had not been instructed or intended to demand a public
cancellation of tins grant. The news of the cession having, however, been
made public and having become a subject of universal comment and discussion
in Maskat, Lieutenant-Colonel Meade felt that no reliance could be placed
on any act of repudiation by the Sultan, which was not made in a manner
sufficiVntly public to bind the Sultan in the eyes, both of the British Govern
ment and of his own subjects. Accordingly he felt himself justified in going
somewhat beyond our instructions and in insisting upon a public withdrawal
of the grant. * In presenting these demands, Lieutenant-Colonel Meade entered
into no discussion with the Sultan, but informed him that he expected his
unconditional compliance within 48 hours. Lieutenant-Colonel Meade was
at the time of opinion that the period allowed -would have to be extended, as
the season was that of the close of the Muhammadan fast of Ramzan and the
eve of their great Id or festival,—a time when it is difficult to get Muham
madans to attend to business. In this expectation he was justified by Hie
event, and the Sultan, pr< ssed on the one side by the Political Agent to yield
and on tbe other by the French Consul to remain firm, found himself in a
- position of considerable difficulty On tbe morning of Tuesday, the 14th Feb.
ruary, Rear-Admiral Douglas, the Commander-in-Chief of the East India
Squadron, who bad arranged to visit the Persian Gulf station in the ordinary
course of his duty, and who had been requested by us to include Maskat in his
tour of inspection, arrived in the flngsbip “ Eclipse Next day instructions,
which we had sent with Your Lordship’s concurrence, authorising him to
enforce, if necessary, Lieutenant-Colonel Meade’s demands, were received.
The Sultan bad by this time so far responded as to send to Lieutenant-Colonel
Meade a notification revoking his gift to the French Government of a coaling
station, but he bad sent no reply to the other demands which had been made
upon him. Lieutenant-Colonel Meade then placed in the hands of Admiral
Douglas the conduct of such further measures as might be required in order to
bring the matter to a conclusion. On the 16th February His Excellency sum
moned tbe Sultan to attend on board the flagship at 2 p.m., and made, at the
same time, such disposition of the ships of war in tbe harbour as to indicate that
he was prepared, if necessary, to resort to force in order to compel compliance
with his demands.
10. His Highness at first endeavoured to evade compliance with tbe
Admiral’s request; but tbe pressure brought to bear upon him by bis own people
was strong, and he eventually decided to proceed to the flagship, where he arrived
punctually at the time arranged. Lieutenant-Colonel Meade and the Political
Agent also attended, and after a prolonged discussion, the Sultan agreed
to place himself unreservedly in the hands of the British Government and to
comply fully with all their demands. His Highness then left the “ Eclipse ”
under a salute of 21 guns.
11. The Admiral visited the Sultan at his palace at 10-30 a m., on the 17th
February, and at 4 p m. the same day His Highness held a general Darbar,
at which all the leading residents of Maskat were present. His Highness
publicly announced his cancellation of the agreement into which he had
entered with the French Government. He also caused notifications to the same
effect to be posted in public places at Maskat and Muttra. His Highness has
informed the French Consul of the cancellation of the agreement, and also of
an order which he has issued to his subjects, directing them in future to make
exclusive use of the Maskat flag. He has further written to M. Ottavi that it is
not possible for him to receive Abdul Aziz-er-Ruwahi in future, and has