England and France are once more jarring. The Govern- ment
of Paris, moved by some occult influence, recently demanded of the Sultan of Oman, who rules from Muscat the whole southern coast of Arabia, that he should lease them a coaling-station. The Sultan consented, and assigned them a port which is capable not only of receiving a fleet, but of being fortified. The facts were reported to Calcutta, where Oman is considered to be, under various treaties, a protected State, dependent upon India, and the Viceroy at once despatched a small squadron to Muscat. The Sultan was required to can- cel the concession at once, and, as he hesitated, was threatened by Admiral Douglas with a bombardment and deposition. He yielded; and though the French Consul protested, all is now arranged upon the former basis. The Press of Paris exclaims against Lord Curzon's . brutality," alleging that France and England have equal rights in Oman; but though it is impossible to be certain until some ancient treaties have been re-examined, it will, we believe, be found that the Government of India, which selected the Sultan and now pensions him, is in the position of a protecting State, entitled to obedience as regards foreign affairs, and to prohibit any cession of territory without its permission. If this is not so the situation will be awkward, as it is quite certain that no British Government will agree to the presence of a European Power in the Arabian Sea or the Persian Gulf. The expense would be too great, and the en- couragement to native intrigue too obvious.
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