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Coll 20/40 'Muscat: Sultan's request for appointment of a British Officer as Adviser to undertake improvements at Gwadur' [‎8r] (16/379)

The record is made up of 1 file (185 folios). It was created in 15 May 1945-8 May 1948. 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. .

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Extract from a letter dated the 18th March, 1943# from
His Highness the sultan of Muscat and Oman, Dhofar, to
the Assistant 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. , Muscat at Salaleh.
+ + + + + + +
Firstly, it is our wish to acquire the services of a
"itish Officer to be appointed as ourMinister for Foreign
Aifairs. The nature of the duties and responsibilities which
at present attach to this post are known to you, and it is
our" intention that the Officer should take full charge of
them. All important matters - for instance those which
concern our policy and the Treaty - would receive our
personal & t tent ion as before, though we may require the
British Officer to assist and advise in apy matters which
we saw fit to refer to him.
Secondly, while it is our desire that the officer whose
services we wish to acquire, be designated our Minister for
Foreign Affairs, and that he should occupy himself princi
pally with the affairs of that post we should wish to
entrust to him certain additional responsibilities of which
the more important are a^ follows:
(a) We may require him to act as our Financial Adviser.
(b) Ho would take over the Minicipal administration of
Muscat and Mutrak.
(c) We should desire him to hold a watching brief over
the officials of our Government and to 3 ettle any
matters which arise between them in our absence from
Muscat. He would make tours of our territories (Ras-al-
Hadd to Malhah) for this purpose and for the purpose
of enabling him to make proposals to us for improve
ments in the administration.
(d) toe should require him to examine -one various fields for
development and the possibilities for obtaining
progressive improvement in the welfare of our people,
and to advise us on these matters.

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Content

Correspondence relating to the effort to find a suitable officer to fill the role of adviser to the Sultan of Muscat, as requested by the Sultan himself. The papers cover the discussion over the requirements of the role, terms of service, and the long search for a suitable candidate, spanning over three years. Wilfred Thesiger is one of the most discussed candidates and correspondence from him is contained in the file. Other correspondents include officials at the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Muscat, the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , 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. (later the Commonwealth Relations Office), the Resident Minister at Cairo, the Colonial Office, the Foreign Office, the Government of India (External Affairs Department), the Burma Office, and the British Legation in Amman. Correspondence from Kinahan Cornwallis and Bertram Thomas, who were asked for their views on possible candidates, is also included.

Extent and format
1 file (185 folios)
Arrangement

The file is arranged in chronological order from the back to the front.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 198; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 20/40 'Muscat: Sultan's request for appointment of a British Officer as Adviser to undertake improvements at Gwadur' [‎8r] (16/379), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3000, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100054959492.0x000011> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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