'Historical Summary of Events in the Persian Gulf Shaikhdoms and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, 1928-1953' [‎107v] (219/222)

202
{h) Post Offices
99. Until the transfer of power in 1947 the Government of India maintained
a post office in Muscat and a post and telegraph office in Gwadur, unsurcharged
Indian stamps being used in both. In 1944 at the Sultan's suggestion they
introduced a special set of surcharged stamps to commemorate the bicentenary
of the Al bu Sa'id dynasty. On the transfer of power the Pakistan Government
took over both post offices. On April 1, 1948, the General Post Office, London,
took over the Muscat post office and brought into use British stamps surcharged
with rupee values only as the Sultan objected to a surcharge of " Muscat'T 52 )
In 1953 the Sultan expressed a desire to introduce his own stamps without giving
any indication that he wished to take over the administration of the post office.
100. It was not found possible to make arrangements for the Gwadur post
and telegraph office to be taken over on April 1, 1948, and the Pakistan Government
were asked to continue to run it for the time being. Later when the Sultan desired
that this arrangement should be terminated both for political reasons and because
of the inefficient manner in which the office was being run, the Pakistan Government
demurred and it was considered undesirable to press them for fear of accentuating
the controversy over the retrocession of GwadurU 153 ) They still continue to run
the office using unsurcharged Pakistan stamps and insisting on payment being
made in Pakistan currency although the only local currency recognised by the
Muscat Government is the Indian rupee. They have recently introduced a wireless
station to supplement a land-line which is rarely in working order and have taken
steps to improve the postal services, about which there had been many complaints.
(/) Telecommunications
101. In 1937 after Messrs. Cable and Wireless Ltd. had taken over the cable
station at Muscat from the Indo-European Telegraph Department the Sultan
asked for payment for the telegraph facilities they enjoyed. It was generally agreed
that although under the agreements of 1864 and 1865( 154 ) His Majesty's
Government had used the facilities free of charge, now that a commercial company
had taken over the Sultan was entitled to charge rent, but he was urged to make
it a purely nominal one. He accordingly granted a licence (Appendix I (i)) to the
company in 1939 valid until 1987 on payment of a yearly rent of £1 for each cable
landed. At the same time he gave permission to the company to instal an
emergency wireless set.
102. In 1950 he entered into an agreement with the company for the
installation of a telephone service at Muscat. Its terms are briefly as follows: —
{a) The Company has exclusive permission to instal and maintain the
telephone service between Muscat and Muttrah, commencing on the
1st January, 1950, and expiring on 31st December, 1987.
(b) The Company shall provide and maintain six free telephone lines including
one for the Sultan's Palace.
(c) The Company will undertake to train and employ suitable subjects of the
Sultan for operating the telephone system as far as is possible and will
afford reasonable facilities for two Sultanate employees to study the
installation, operation and maintenance of the telephone system.( J65 )
103. In 1951 after prolonged negotiations the Sultan granted the company a
Wireless Telephone and Wireless Telegraph Licence (Appendix I (ii)). The licence
is valid until 1987 and no rental is payable but the Sultan is guaranteed certain
services free of charge. At the time of the granting of the licence the Company's
representative wrote a letter to the Sultan amplifying the provisions of some of its
Articles (Appendix I (iii)).
(/) Quarantine and Medical
104. Although Her Majesty's Government are not internationally responsible
for quarantine at Muscat, the Medical Officer appointed by them to hold charge
of the Muscat Charitable Hospital acts as Quarantine Medical Officer on behalf
( 152 ) C.R.O. to P.O. Ext. 1946 of September 12, 1947 (E 8452/66/91 of 1947).
( 153 ) C.R.O. to P.O. 6609/49 of April 19, 1949 (W 2359/17/801 of 1949).
( 154 ) Nos. 4 and 5 V, T.C.
( 155 ) P.R. to P.O. 274/3/50 of March 6, 1950 (EA 1432/1 of 1950).