'Muscat. Desire of Sultan Taimur bin Faisal to Abdicate.' [‎30r] (69/408)

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intcrTieii. And having regard to the statenent made by
Hia Highness to Colonel Barrett a fevr months ago I vient
to see His Highness expecting to be confronted by something
in the nature of an ultimatum: I am glad to be able to
report, howeTer, that these anticipations were not fulfilled
and that my interyieyr viith His Highness was on the vdiole
satisfactory.
3, As already stated I found His Highness looking
much better than I anticipated arid after complimenting him
on his appearance and on the fact that he had been able to
visit various outlying portions of his state, I turned the
conversation to the subject of finance. The state financial
year coincides with the calendar year; and Major Murphy
had informed me that despite the strictest economy he anti
cipated that the year would close with a deficit of Ks. 7P00
or 8,000, His Highness stated that in his opinion it was
essential that measures should be taxen to increase the
revenues of the state and expressed the very earnest hope
that His Majesty's Government would obtain the consent of
the French and American Governments wi thout further delay
to the increase in the customs duty. I infomied him that
I did not know exactly how the matter stood but that
I agreed with him that it was essential that something
should be done to enable the state to pay its way and would
represent his wishes to Government.
4. His Highness then went on to discuss Sur affairs.
He had himself visited Sur recently and endeavoured to arrivi
at a settlement with Shaikh Ali bin Abdullah,the so-called
Amir of Jaalan of the Beni Bu Ali tribe,who was still levy
ing unauthorised customs duties at Sur and flying a flag
which though of the Wahabi colours the Amir has always
stated is not a Wahabi flag but his own flag. His Highness
stated that he had informed the Amir that he had no desire
to interfere in tribal affairs in the interior of the
country but that the Amir must cease all interference in
the
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