'File 35/86 I A 32 Muscat Commercial Treaty, 1891: revision of 1905' [‎49r] (101/480)

Buahire
March ^th
My dear ^revor, .k ^ '
B00 Cj 4th.Deo♦ and aocornT3anl?nent which you wrote
bo i connection with your official letter no. dated PVth.NOy#
on the subject of the revision of the treaty# M
xt reached me when the Admiral wan with me, and the subject
needing some Uninterrupted work, I have otoly been able to deal
with it no\ that 1 an away in the H Lawrence n fora few dayp #
A G regards the Ireaty auestion, I nend you a copy of my C'.*
letter to the Govt, of India by this mail.
The -ultan's desiderata as set forth in the memorandum
■
of which copy is encloeod with yourletter are too unintelligible
in many cases to be de ' : t with seriously, and a good many of
them prima facie unnecessary and likely to bo capable of
elimination after full dircussion with him.
I attach a BFMJ* note giving a few brief remarks against
the Items according to their several numbers. They are
rather intended as suggestions than as ouestionB needing answers.
I would advise that you go through the items with the fultan or
someone in Ms behalf; find out exactly what is meant by and what
/
is at the bottom of each item, and then put them through a process
of elimination in the course of discussion with Hie Highness;
then we can if necessary further discuss items which ynu and he
cannot agree about.
As regards' Increase of Custom duty to 3^. Government m o y
possibly a~ree if he gives a ouid pro auoby ado-sting measures on
the lines you suggest. Short o those i is difficult to thitik
of courses really making for efficiency, which hecwuld take
if he would, sufficient to make Government consider xteelf
Justified in asking other powers to come in.
yours sincerely
t
(sd} P.Z.Cox.