Coll 6/88 'Intelligence: Military Report on Arabia (C.B. 1892).' [‎16v] (37/133)

6
H.M. Government and the Government of INDIA are represented in MUSCAT by a
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. who is a British Officer of the Indian Foreign and Political Department and who
acts as H.B.M.’s Consul.
The last twenty years have seen the practical elimination of French and the consolidation
of British influence in MUSCAT. Despite the fact that the Sultanate is independent, a very
close degree of indirect control has been established ; the arms traffic has disappeared and
thanks to the active intervention, both political and otherwise, of H.M. Government, a working
arrangement has been reached with the rebellious tribes of the interior of OMAN. On the
other hand, the financial situation is complicated by the need for expenditure on essential
improvements and the problem of the attitude of the tribes of SUR remains a difficult one.
The direct intervention in the affairs of MUSCAT of H.M. Government has been very definitely
in the interests of the State, and, so far as those interests are concerned, it is desirable that
it should be maintained. At the same time, so long as the treaties at present in force between
the Sultan and FRANCE, HOLLAND and the U.S.A. continue to subsist, there can be no
question of the establishment of a formal protectorate even should wider objections of
principle not be held to militate against the acceptance of such a policy.
From the narrower point of view of the interests of H.M. Government and the Government
of INDIA there is no less advantage in a maintenance of the status quo, under which control in
everything but name rests with H.M. Government. With the gradual elimination of British
authority from the South Persian coast and with the adoption, for however long it may be
maintained, of an active policy in the Gulf by Persia, the stranglehold on the Gulf, which the
effective control of MUSCAT constitutes, has assumed an importance, more especially in view
of British commitments in IRAQ, which it did not in the past present. Moreover, not only is
effective, if veiled, control of MUSCAT the point d’appui of the consolidation of British
influence on the North Arabian littoral, but the danger, in its absence, of active foreign
interest in the State cannot be overlooked.
The principality has recently acquired additional importance to BRITAIN for the three
following reasons :—
{a) The establishment of a “ recreational base ” at KHOR KAWI in the MUSSANDAM
peninsula [see Plans 18 and 19). In view of the Anglo-French declaration of
1862, whereby both contracting parties agreed reciprocally to respect the inde
pendence of the Sultan of MUSCAT, it was not possible to establish more than a
recreational base. Even now it is possible the French Government may
raise objections. In time of war, however, such objections could not be allowed
to stand m our way in establishing a fully protected base here to safeguard our
communications at the entrance to the PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
The Imperial Air route to the East passes over the MUSSANDAM peninsula and
also GUADUR, m BALUCHISTAN, where an aerodrome is maintained by
Imperial Airways. J
It is probable that the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (or a subsidiary company)
will obtain a concession to explore for oil in MUSCAT territory
The Government of INDIA have expressed the view in 1928 that “ the maintenance of
the independence of MUSCAT, KUWAIT, BAHRAIN and the Trucial Chiefs is necessary
Our veiled protectorate over them suffices against European encroachments. So long as we do
not alienate Arab opinion by attempting undue westernization, it suffices also aeainst
encroachments by the WAHABI State. At need it can be more explicitly asserted ” §
encroachments.^ 1106 ° f & PerSian ^ added the P ossibilit y of Protection against Persian
[b)
[c)
Trucial Oman A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates.
AT 0f the PERSIA N GULF, from SHAAM to OJAIR is known as
ins nrlu T.C, . A r lo "* thlscoastexlstseve n independent Shaikhdond namely RAS-AL
QATAR l-heY t \ A p QAIWA U- AJMAN ' SHAR J A H. DEBAR ABU DHABI and
?«9n AR i Th tT ±} P rmci P allties are governed by Arab Shaikhs, whose predecessors in
18^0 and again in 1853 entered into Treaty relations with BRITAIN, whereby they contracted
Foreign Po^ver ; notTo ceVeLermmmtg^fan^'oTiLTr
sponge fishing or oil concessions without the approval of the British Government. P g ’
Actually, the Shaikh of QATAR did not join the Trucial Chiefs until 1916.
In 1936 the Shaikh of KALBA (on the Gulf of mvrAxn t
to the British Government, was accorded his independence’ and agrepd'to^nUrfntothe 1111168
contracts. He thus becomes the eighth Trucial Shaikh, g ™ 1 nt ° the Same