File 4640/1928 Pt 4 ‘MUSCAT: FUTURE POLICY IN. Tariffs.’

Content

This volume contains papers relating to British policy in Muscat. It includes some papers regarding the situation at Sur; however most of the volume concerns the financial situation of the Muscat state, mainly the proposal to increase state revenues by removing the limitation on the power of the Sultan of Muscat and Oman to impose customs duties in excess of five per cent.

It includes papers concerning the British Government asking the governments of the United States of America and France to agree to the modification of Article 3 of the Commercial Treaty between Muscat and the United States of 1833, and Article 10 of the Treaty between Muscat and France of 1844, respectively, which prevented the Sultan from levying import duties in excess of five per cent, in order to enable the general tariff and the tariff on alcohol and cigarettes to be increased.

The volume also includes papers regarding the question of the revision of the tariff provisions of the Commercial Treaty of 1891 between Muscat and the United Kingdom, which also precluded the Muscat Government from imposing import or export duties higher than five per cent.

In addition, the volume includes papers relating to the eventual proposal to abandon attempts to secure a modification of the Muscat Commercial Treaties with France and the USA, and instead to raise the tariff rate against all goods other than those carried in French and American vessels and those covered by the Commercial Declaration between Muscat and the Netherlands of 1877. This was due to the United States Government only being willing to consider the modification of the 1833 Treaty with Muscat on the basis of the accord of most favoured nation treatment to US nationals as well as US goods, which the Muscat Council had raised objections to, and which the 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. considered unacceptable.

The papers consist of correspondence, draft treaty articles, 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. Political and Secret Department minute papers, reports, memoranda, and copies of the Maskat [Muscat] Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. , 1915 and the Maskat (Amendment) Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. , 1922.

The main correspondents are as follows: the 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. ; the Government of India Foreign and Political Department; the 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. ; the Foreign Office; the British Embassy, Washington; and the British Embassy, Paris.

The volume also includes: letters from the Sultan of Muscat and Oman to the 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. at Muscat, dated 9 March 1930, and to the Officiating 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. at Bushire, dated 25 August 1931, which are in Arabic with English translations; and letters in French from the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the British Ambassador to France, dated 15 October 1930 and 29 September 1931.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format

1 volume (489 folios)

It is grouped into

‘SKETCH MAP OF PERSIAN GULF.’

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/10/1276, f 445

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

The subject 4640 (Muscat) consists of two volumes and one file, IOR/L/PS/10/1275-1277. The volumes and file are divided into two parts, with part 2 comprising one volume, and part 4 comprising the second volume and the file. There is no part 1 or part 3.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 484; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.

A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in

English, French and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

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.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/PS/10/1276

Former external reference(s)

P 4640/1928 Pt 4

History of this record

Date(s)

25 Aug 1928-17 Mar 1932 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

TariffsRevenueTreaties

Places

United States of AmericaSultanate of Muscat and OmanFranceSur

People & organisations

British Embassy, WashingtonSultan of Muscat and Oman, Āl Bū Sa'īd DynastyPolitical Resident, Persian GulfGovernment of India, Foreign and Political DepartmentForeign Office

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File 4640/1928 Pt 4 ‘MUSCAT: FUTURE POLICY IN. Tariffs.’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/1276, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000466.0x0002e6> [accessed 23 April 2024]

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