This course of action had proved successful three years earlier when Khalid had tried to claim the sultanate after the death of Ali, and the British consul-general, Rennell Rodd, had persuaded him of the dangers of such an action.
Denne fremgangsmåde havde fungeret tre år tidligere, da Khalid havde forsøgt at kræve sultanatet efter Alis død, men den britiske generalkonsul, Rennell Rodd, havde fået ham fra dette ved at overbevise ham om farerne dette indebar.