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'Muscat Treaty' [‎58r] (130/537)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (255 folios). It was created in 10 Jun 1938-29 Nov 1938. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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361/58
Board of Trade,
Great George Jtreet,
London,
20th June, 1938
Dear Symon, ^
P o >
Draft Anr.'lo-Muscat Treaty « I*
Following on our telephone conversation, we have cor^idered
the points raised by '/atts in his letter to Gibson of 11th June,
We have only the following observations to make (and even as
regards most of these points I think that you are more concerned
than we are);-
A rticle 5 (3) . Would not the intention be more clearly
brought out if Watts* clause (which I gather would be an addition
at the end of the present paragraph) were amended to read:
"There shall be no variation of the Customs duties as between
different ports of the Sultanate, and when goods have once been
landed at any such port and the duty thereon has been paid, the
goods shall not be liable to re-assessment of duty at the same
or any other port"•
Article 6(2) . Our interest is of course slight compared
with India*s, but we are disposed to feel, as regards watts'
proposal, that it is desirable to fix a uniform basis of
valuation, whetaer there is a Tariff Board or not. Otherwise
what is there to ore vent the Tariff Board from valuing different
articles on different bases? Moreover, a valuation list which
covered everything would be impossibly long. Surely some
principle will need to be laid down to enable Customs officers
to decide on the valuation of particular articles wAieh may not
be included in the Tariff Board 1 s valuations, without having to
hold the goods up until the Board can be called to ether to
fix a valuation.
You/
•B, Symon Ksq.

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Content

Correspondence relating to negotiation of Muscat Treaty in 1938. The Muscat Commercial Treaty 1891 had been renewed every year but in 1938 Sultan Said bin Taimur stated that he was not prepared to renew it further. Correspondence relates to the negotiations over a new treaty, the clauses and their wordings.

Discussions in the correspondence included:

  • Issue of appointment of Consular Officers to inland towns.
  • Whether the treaty could be translated into classical or modern Arabic.
  • Jurisdiction of nationals other than those defined in the 1891 treaty.
  • Customs duties.
  • Importation of items such as alcoholic liquors and tobacco by His Majesty's Consul for his personal use.
  • Arrangements for obtaining Sultan's signature in Muscat or Dhofar.

Includes side-by-side Arabic and English translations of draft clauses as well as a copy of the Arabic and English text proposed for the treaty. The final treaty was composed of 23 articles covering: nationals; aircraft; internal duties and taxes; prohibitions on imports; appointment of Consuls; assistance of vessels in distress; freedom of conscience and religious toleration; procedures for termination of the treaty; the equivalence of the Arabic and English version of the text of the treaty but where dispute English text was considered decisive; length of treaty. Also includes a confidential letter relating to Article 15. Correspondents include: Said bin Taimur [Sa‘īd bin Taymūr], Sultan of Muscat; Sir Trenchard Craven William Fowle, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; Rutherford Berriman Tippetts, Board of Trade, London; India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , Whitehall, London; Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Muscat.

Extent and format
1 volume (255 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged chronologically from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the system of foliation in use is the sequence of numbers written in pencil in the top right hand corner of each folio.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'Muscat Treaty' [‎58r] (130/537), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/413, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023827340.0x000083> [accessed 25 April 2024]

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