Skip to item: of 415
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

Coll 5/77 ‘Muscat: including activities of U.S. Air Force and Pan-American Airways in the Middle East’ [‎5r] (9/415)

The record is made up of 1 file (206 folios). It was created in 31 Dec 1941-19 Oct 1946. It was written in English. The original is part of the 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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

V
2. I have mentioned in my Monthly Letter some trouble
we have been having over purchases made by the Sultan of
Muscat of property at Salalah and Maairah from the American
Disposal authorities at Cairo* The first I heard of the
matter was a telegram from the A.O.C# Aden in which he said
he had heard from Cairo that the Sultan had personally
telegraphed to Mr* Ramsay* head of the American Foreign
Liquidation Commission* Cairo* on the 16th June complaining
that the property which he had purchased at Salalah and
Masirah had not been handed over to him by the R*A*F, The
A.O*C* said he had personally visited the W a li at Dhofar
and reached an agreement with him for the retention of the
property by the R.A.F* This action of the W a li was not
authorised by the Sultan who was annoyed that the American
property had never been formally delivered to himself or his
represen tative •
3* I understand that what actually happened was that
the American personnel who had charge of the property at
Salalah and Masirah were given no instructions to hand it
over to the Sultan or his representative and so when they
left merely passed it on to the R*A*F* who have been using
it without any authorisation from the Sultan to do so.
The Sultan has now refused to make payment to the Americans
on account of their failure to effect delivery and has
informed them that he will conclude a fresh purchase agreement' - '*
?hen he is assured that the property is available for delivery
and after it has been inspected hy himself or his represent
ative.
4. The above refers chiefly to moveable property.
The Sultan has agreed that the R.A.F* may use the American
buildings and punp at Salalah and the buildings at Masirah
which automatically passed to him with the conclusion of
hostilities, until the end of the year when his agreonent
regarding the grant of facilities to the R.A.F. expires*
The R.A.F. report that the pump when they took it over was
in bad condition and that they have had to instal another one.
It would appear that the American personnel left behind in
charge of the property failed to grease it aid look after
it properly. The A.O.C. Aden has given instructions that
the Sultan*® puap is to be carefully maintained for future
re- erection.
5. The A.O.C. Aden was much surprised when he was
informed that facilities granted to the R.A.F. in Muscat are
due to come to an end on the 31st December next. I should
be grateful if you could let me know whether I may soon
expect instructions regarding negotiations with the Sultan
of Muscat for a new agreement vide correspondence ending
with Government of In dia E xpress Letter Mo.D.3865-IO/46
dated the 28th May 1946.
^ \ —
6. I am sending a copy of this letter to Weightman.
E.P.Dpnaldson Esquire* C.M.G.*
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. *
LGNDOE.
RHL

About this item

Content

The file is concerned with the operations of Pan American Airlines in the Middle East; British officials were concerned that the airline was using the war as a pretext for commercial penetration of British controlled territories. The file therefore covers the militarisation of Pan American Airlines operations in the Middle East, and its absorption into the United States Army Air Force (USAAF).

In addition, the file contains correspondence related to the use of the Southern Arabian Air Route by the United States Air Force: in particular, the use of aerodromes at Masirah and Salalah, as per a 1942 agreement with Sa‘īd ibn Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd, Sultan of Muscat and Oman: see folio 87 for a record of the negotiations. This includes discussion surrounding the post-war disposal of stone buildings built by the Americans at these sites.

The main correspondents in the file are as follows: 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. (William Rupert Hay and Arnold Crawshaw Galloway), 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. and Consul at Muscat (Cornelius James Pelly), HM Ambassador to the United States (Edward Wood, Viscount, later Earl of Halifax), HM Ambassador to Iraq (Sir Kinahan Cornwallis) the Minister of State Resident in the Middle East (Walter Guiness), officials of the Foreign Office, officials of 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. , and representatives of the Government of India.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (206 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 207; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

Coll 5/77 ‘Muscat: including activities of U.S. Air Force and Pan-American Airways in the Middle East’ [‎5r] (9/415), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2039, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100039051446.0x00000a> [accessed 28 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100039051446.0x00000a">Coll 5/77 ‘Muscat: including activities of U.S. Air Force and Pan-American Airways in the Middle East’ [&lrm;5r] (9/415)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100039051446.0x00000a">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000241/IOR_L_PS_12_2039_0010.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000241/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image