'Historical Summary of Events in the Persian Gulf Shaikhdoms and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, 1928-1953' [‎99r] (202/222)

185
Obaid went over to the Saudis in 1952. A cousin of his, Abdullah bin Salim, whose
father had once been the paramount Shaikh, shortly afterwards asked Her
Majesty's Government to support his claim to the leadership of the tribe.
Although care had been taken previously not to recognise the Sultan's claim to
sovereigntly over the tribe it now became politic to do so, and Abdullah was sent
to Muscat to make his submission. After that, with the Sultan's approval he
received Her Majesty's Government's support against Obaid, and the latter fled
from Mahadhah. It will be necessary therefore in future to regard the Bani Ka'ab
as the Sultan's subjects unless provision is made to the contrary in any settlement
of the boundary dispute which may be reached with the Saudis.
V.—Gwadur
44. Although Gwadur has been under the sovereignty of Muscat since 1792
it was not included in the district of 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. , Muscat until 1934. The
Sultan maintains a Wali there and a small garrison. In 1946 having failed to obtain
the services of a British officer for which he had asked he appointed an Indian
Administrator to look after municipal affairs, and in 1949 the latter's place was
taken by a British Administrator. A school and a dispensary are maintained, and
the services of an Indian or Pakistani doctor are obtained from time to time, but
he rarely stays for more than a few months. The British Administrator s attempts
to improve conditions are hampered by lack of funds. The bulk of the population
is Baluch, but in Gwadur town there are about 400 Ismali Khojas or Agakhams
and 100 Hindus. Before the transfer of power in India these were all British
subjects, as protected persons. The Hindus have now become Indian subjects
while the Agakhanis are endeavouring to obtain citizenship of the United
Kingdom for which it is probable that few of them have the requisite qualifications.
British interests are in charge of an official who used to be called the British Agent,
but since 1952 has been designated Pro-Consul. He exercises judicial powers under
the Muscat Order-in-Council. The chief value of Gwadur to the Sultan l ies J" 11
its customs revenue which is usually much in excess of his expenditure on e
place.
45. Before the transfer of power the Khan of Kalat never relinquished his
claim to sovereignty over Gwadur.C) He renewed it [ n w hen the question
of an oil concession for the territory arose (paragraph 65 below). In 1927 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. proposed the purchase of Gwadur by His Majesty s Government
owing to its importance as a staging-post in the air route which was then under
discussion.( 50 ) He suggested a sum of £135,000 as [he purchase price and to
25 per cent, of this should be paid to the Khan of KalaU ) Nothing came ot the
nrooosal In 1939 the Sultan who at the time wished to raise funds for the
conquest of Oman asked 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. whether he thought the Govern
ment of India would be willing to lease or buy Gwadur from him,( ) but owing to
the outbreak of war the matter was not pursued then. Early in 1947 the
Government of India tentatively raised the question of the retrocession of Gwadur
bv sale to Kalat State( 53 ) but dropped it because there was not time to deal with the
., Kpfnrp the transfer of power in India. Before that event took place the
Khan sought permiss ^on to negotiate direct with the Sultan for the return of
Gwadur but it was decided that he could not be permitted to have direct relations
• i f oirrt-i nnvprnment before the lapse of paramountcy.( ) After the
with any foreign delayed his accession to Pakistan, and the Pakistan
rov^rnnwnf recognised the Province of Mekran, within the limits of which Gwadur
Government recogins Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. who had announced his
P.".S kh" " y
Gwadur. . .
46., In 1948 S
fpprolch^d with" proposal for the sale of Gwadur. He replied that he was willing
a^.
( 49 ) Para. 72 at p. 57, P.G. 13
("') Para'. 74 at p. 5 8 . p G- 13 - , ^ 1927 (E 1515/14/91 of 1927).
(•') CO. to FX). p 7 6255139 of November 8, 1939 (E 7388/37/91 of 1939).
( S2 ) I.O. to F.O. P Z. 6255 / jy oi iNovc (F 6108/90 5 /6 , o( ml ),
P) l.O. lo F O. IS'- 1462 /47^rf July 24. 1947 (E 6626/25/91 of 1947). ^ ^ ^
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