'P. 3 733/1904. Muscat :- Commercial Treaties.' [‎240r] (65/286)

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fll) I do not understand why His Highness
offers this indulgence. If he approves of it, there
seems no reason why we should object to it.
(12) This is merely an amplification of the rest
of the Tr eaty and it would seem only fair and
practically is alread y understood. The Customs
cannot be expected to keep unclaimed goods for
ever. It would read better if the final clause said
“ shall be forfeit to the Muskat Government ”
but we coul d not prevent His Highness making
them a perquisite of the Customs Superiutendent
i f he chose. It would be advisable to put in a
clause th at “ One month before such goods are
de clared forfeit to the State in the case of perish-
able good s and three months in the case of
ordinary goods, the Customs Superintendent must
give notice in writing of his intention to declare
such go ods forfeit to the State and to the British
Consul, stating nature of goods, quantity, weight,
nu mber, marks and all information likely to lead
to ide ntification of owner, and this irrespective of
whether h e has reason to believe that the goods
unclaimed ar e the property of other than British
subjects or not/*
Article VII.
No article whatever shall be prohibited from
bein" imported into, or exported from, the terri-
tories of His Highness the Sulta n except intoxi .
cants (1). Then the Sultan may decide on the
~^ b!bitIon or license thereof (2). And further,
when the Sultan may see fit to prohibit the import
or export of certain goods to prevent injury feared
by him, then he may prohibit (3) (4).
N OTR g.—(1) short like this, the exception might
stand I t hink, it would be advisable if “arms and
am munition }> wer^sdsc^ad^ej^^^Add^alscT^^ ^ith
reg ard to which two classes of articles, tbe provisions
ar e laid down in articles respectively/'
(2) C ould not, I think, be admitted without
considerable reserve.
(3) Far too wide and better omitted altogether
(4) It will be noted that the Article, as amended,
is silent on Export duties. This will have to be
reinserted 1 presume.
Article VIII.
Bead right down to “ Special Board ” in 6th
line and after insert " such as His Majesty (1) .
The Sultan shall appoint ” (2)
and thence to end of Article.
(1 ) Notes. The use of the word hitherto
reserved for His Majesty the Hiug seems objec-
tionable. I would request early instructions on
this point.
(2) Otherwise the proviso seems a harmless con
cession to His Highness’s “ amour propre. ” Such
b bo ard seems highly improbable and the nominal
approval of His Highness would, I presume, be
considered essential.