'File 8/20: MUSCAT STATE AFFAIRS: RISE OF OMANIS' [‎3r] (5/634)

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No. 9l-C., dated Maskat, the 9th (received 24th) May 1917 (Confidential),
From—M ajorL. B. H. Haworth, 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 His Britannic Majesty^s
Consul, Maskat,
To—The Hon'dle Mu. A. H. Crant, C.S.I., O.I.E., Foreign Secretary to the Gov
ernment of India in the Foreign and Political Department, Simla.
I have the honour to forward herewith a copy of a letter, No. 90-C., dated
9th instant, which l have addressed to the Deputy 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. on the subject of the present situation in Maskat and
Oman.
Enclosure to Serial No. 5.
No. 90-C., dated the 9th May 1917 (Confidential).
From— Major L. B. H. Haworth, 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 His Britannic Majesty's
Consul, Maskat,
To— Major A. P. Trevor, C.I.E., Deputy 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, Bushire.
With reference to the correspondence ending nrith telegram No. 1084-S.,
dated the 26th October 1915, from Foreign to Sir Percy Cox, and No. 207,
dated 9th November 1915, from this Office to Foreign, on the subject of tho
Imam’s rising, I have the honour to inform you that I was about to address
you regarding the situation in Oman when His Highness the Sultan himself
approached me on the subject. He pointed out that the Imam, whose strength
Inis increased steadily, has now, for four years, held Oman and was at the
present minute attacking llustaq. If this were taken it would again greatly
strengthen the Imam’s prestige and the Sultan evidently fears for the future.
He admitted to me that, if it were not for the vulnerable position of the
tribes on the coast, many of them would join the Imam and be bad few tribes
left upon whom lie could rely, a number which decreases as the Imam’s
strength increases and defections have taken place in the past year.
He was anxious then to make a move on the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Samail after the hbt
w'eather when be was of the opinion he could raise from 2,000 to 3,000 men
from the Sobar District, and he wished to know if we would assist him.
I asked him if he could not do this alone with the tribes he was mentioning
as still loyal. He replied that he thought he could do so, but if we would help
him the cost woulfl be one twentieth of the amount it would take if he were
to do it alone.
This is an euphemism : in actual fact I do not think he could do anything
alone. His present movement to the assistance of liustaq will be a test of this.
The reports received regarding Government of the Imam show that
justice is obtainable and the only complaints heard are due to the fact that it
is strict and that debtiOrs are made to pay their debts, which is not always
popular, and I have no doubt that the strong fanatical tendency must he a
strain upon many who miss the tobacco and other luxuries of which they are
not allowed to make use but, I no longer hear any suggestion of the break up
of the solidity of the revolutionary party.
The leading Hindu merchants have told me that all their debts referred
to the Imam w r ere paid immediately, that they had no outstandings due to
their firms at Barkab, &e., who dealt direct with the interior, and that it was
only where the Sultan held sway that chaos reigned and claims were unsettled.
The Hindu community inform me that the Government of the Imam is good
and that, if the rule of the Walis in the districts was not good, it was at
any rate very much better than the condition of affairs at Maskat and
Mattrah under the ^Ultan himself.
On the other hahd I have never heard a good word from any one regard
ing the Government jof the Sultan or his Walis. His courts are venal, justice
is not given or to be bbtained, cases are not attended to and everything is chaos