'File 35/134 III (A 54) Sur: Ja`alan- Amirs of.' [‎52r] (119/426)

Extract from D.O. letter No.69 dated 27th September 1930
from Mr. B.S.Thomas, Finance Minister, Muscat State, to Major
T.C. Fo’ ,T le, C.B.E. , 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. & H.B.M’s Consul, Muscat.
XXX X
III Customs leakage at Sur.
Saiyid Sa’id has just returned from a fortnight’s
tour there in A1 Sa’idi - a most successful tour. He
succeeded in patching up the quarrel between the t^o
opposing factions, the policy you proposed you may remem
ber in your report to P.R.
The Bani 3u Ali appear to have lowered their flag
at Aija for good and actually flew the red flag and fired
salutes for Saiyid Sa’id.
The situation is much improved.
As regards para III of my note to you in Karachi on
Customs leakage the D.G.Customs of the State^ Iskandar
Effendi^has just returned from leave from Egypt^ and I have
directed him to change the Ma’mur of Sur, Muhamad Ali,
as soon as convenient.
He is of opinion that the complaints against this
Ma’mur are chiefly due to the latter’s insistence on proper
Customs collections: regards the allegations of corruption
which I have heard about as a put up job by merchants (i)
for ousting him, and (ii) securing the succession of a man
who ™ili realise it is not to his interests to be too
conscientious. The D.G. win however carry out my instruc
tions in the course of the month.
I enclose t^o letters from the Ma’mur himself.
Saiyid Said informs me that the bisr tax of dollars
l£ per camel load w as paid by all Arab subjects promptly
and without demur and most British ones except the t w o
influential banias Khimji Ramdas and Shabika who however
paid it under protest.
The frivolousness of the supposed hardship is