'File 35/87 IV (A 30) Muscat reforms' [‎15r] (35/496)

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Our relations with Muscat on ,So to apoak > the International
baals are embodied In the Comnerclal treaty, wh3 ,Gh as re^rls
prooeiare has been elaborate! In the Muscat Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. .
Roughly British subjects receive most favoured nation treat-
-ment, aild when they are accused of any criz?ie or ly ve any case
brought- against t em by an Arab subject they are only triable
in t c3 British consular court.The taxation which the Sultan
may impose upon British subjects is strictly defined, and any
new taxes or Imposts Imposed by th Sultan on his ovn subjects
are not blnilr.. ur on British subjects unless th^/ .-ire so made
by 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. under what is
known as a King's Regulation under the Muscat Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council.
Our relations with Muscat under agreement are
very important. The Buitan may not alienate any portion of
his dominions to a foreign power, he has consented to the
reform of his administration especially in the matters of
customs, justice m&XK, levy corps and education, and he has
to consult arid take the advice of the Political A|/ent in all
matters of importance. The British aovermaent on its part
has granted a loan to the state of 6^- lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. to pay
off t e Sultan's debts, and guarantees to maintain the
effective authority of the Sultan on the coast. It also pays
to the Sultan a subsidy of a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees a year to compensate him
for the arms traffic, and through it is also paid the Zanzibar
subsidy.
The Political A^ent must therefore b<» consulted
before any Important step is conten. lated.
(3) Position of the state as regards Interior Ouan.
It may be sal'I that f r almosj fifty years the
Sultanr of Muscat have had no effective power over interior
Oman. At present int rior Oman Is practically a separate state
under a religious Imam. The British government has never
assisted the Sultan in any way to attempt t^ r»aToiv^ 2 lost
hoi I over the interior, nor is this its policy It confines
J to helping the Sultan on the coast when nec ssary.