Whereas
by letters of 16th and 23rd December, 1887, exchanged
between the Governor of Ceylon on behalf of Her Majesty Queen
Victoria and His Highness the Sultan of the Maldive Islands,
an agreement was made for the protection of the Maldive Islands
by Her Majesty.
And
whereas His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and
His Highness the Sultan of the Maldive Islands desire to enter
into a new agreement for this purpose.
Therefore
it is agreed between His Majesty's Government in the United
Kingdom and His Highness the Sultan of the Maldive Islands
as follows:-
- His
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will recognise
as Sultan of the Maldive Islands the Sultan duly succeeding
to the throne in accordance with the Maldivian laws and
customs.
Mohamed
Mueenuddine II Iskander, King of Twelve Thousand
Isles and Sultan of the Maldives (Majid's father's
uncle and Majid's mother-in-law's grandfather) |
- The
Maldive Islands shall continue under the protection of
His Majesty, and His Majesty's Government in the United
Kingdom will at all times to the utmost of its power take
whatever steps may be necessary to protect the Islands
from hostile attacks.
- Relations
between the Sultan and His Majesty's Government will be
conducted through the High Commissioner for the United
kingdom in Ceylon unless some other arrangement is at
any time made by His Majesty's Government by agreement
with the Sultan.
- Relations
between the Maldive Islands and other countries will be
conducted by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom
or in accordance with its advice, and His Majesty's Government
will, so far as is compatible with its other obligations
and interests, support the interests of the Maldive Islands
in any negotiations directed towards the furtherance of
their trade or commerce.
- His
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will have the
right to establish and maintain in the Maldive Islands
such facilities for His Majesty's forces as His Majesty's
Government in the United Kingdom may after consultation
with the Sultan determine to be required for the defence
of the Maldive Islands or any part of His Majesty's dominions,
and the Sultan will afford every assistance to this end.
- His
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will refrain
as heretofore from any interference in the internal affairs
of the Maldive Islands.
- The
annual tribute heretofore presented by the Sultan to His
Majesty shall cease.
Done
in duplicate at Male, this twenty fourth day of April, 1948.
Signed
on behalf of His Majesty's Government
in the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland.
Sgd.
W.C. Hankinson.
Signed
on behalf of the Sultan of the Maldive Islands.
Sgd.
Ibrahim Ali Didi.
