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'File 8/65 IX RENEWAL of COMMERCIAL TREATY' [‎78r] (155/242)

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The record is made up of 1 file (119 folios). It was created in 13 Aug 1951-14 Oct 1951. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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ORGBHT & CONFIDENTIAL.
15-
57/6/65/51
H. B, M* e Consulate and
Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ,
MUSCAT . 2nd Septemter
Muscat Treaty Negotiations.
Sir,
I have the honour to refer to your despatch
No. 5 dated the 2Uth August 1951, and to forward
herewith three copies of a note containing the
amendments desired hy the Sultan to the draft Treaty
of Comnerce and Navigation received with the despatch
under reference. The note also contains my comments
upon these amendments and the Sultan’s attitude, and .
gives, I trust, a coherent account of the result of
my negotiations so far. I also enclose three copies
of the aide-memoire which I left with the Sultan, to
whom I had also forwarded a copy of the draft with my
letters asking for an interview, and informing him that
I had heen appointed to negotiate.
2. The Sultan has studied the matter very carefully
and together we have "been through every word of it. I
do not think it will he possible to persuade him to
reduce any of his demands further. He gave way on a
number of points, some trivial, but some, for him, quite
big. On what remains he appears to be adamant, and I
can think of no means of persuading him to alter his
views that I have not already tried. In fact my general
opinion is that he is not being unreasonable, and that
it should not be impossible to accede, to his demands,
even if they are awkward or if the result falls short
of all that it was hoped to achieve. Broadly speaking,
I think we have obtained all that we shall need in
practice (even allowing for the ommision of certain
territories and people;, whilst on his side the Sultan
will be much happier and more co-operative.
3. The only dausesin which the Sultan asks for „
reciprocity which may prove embarrassing is that relat
ing to monopolies, which it seems could be dropped,
and those in which benefits are provider for*r territorie
for the international relations of which His Majesty
is responsible through His Government in the United
Kingdom. In the latter case the only remedy seems to
be to confine the treaty to those territories to which
the treaty is extended by Article 15, and thus to
give the Sultan full reciprocity throughout, except
where he has specifically stated he does not want it.
4. The question of British subjects without
citizenship, also arises. At present I can only think
of the Khojas and Anglo-Indiaiis likely to be affected
if no
His Excellency 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. ,
BAHRAIN.

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Content

Continuing on from the previous file (IOR/R/15/6/260), this file relates to the termination and proposed replacement of the 1939 Commercial Treaty between Britain and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman.

Most of the correspondence concerns the drafting of a new treaty between the two parties (eventually concluded in December 1951 and ratified in May 1952). The file contains a series of letters exchanged between 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 (Major Frederick Charles Leslie Chauncy) and the Sultan of Muscat and Oman [Sa‘īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd] regarding the precise wording of the English text of the treaty. The remaining correspondence, which is mostly between 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 the Foreign Office, concerns proposed amendments to drafts of the treaty. Other related matters of discussion include the following: the question of whether the Sultan will agree to allow the British to retain their 'extra-territorial privileges' in Muscat (i.e. jurisdiction over nationals from other British territories); whether the new treaty should cover consuls and consular functions; the duration of the new treaty, with the Foreign Office preferring a minimum of twelve years; the possibility of prolonging the existing treaty until 31 December 1951.

Also included is a draft of the proposed new treaty (ff 93-103). The Arabic language material consists of the aforementioned correspondence between 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 the Sultan (English translations are included).

Extent and format
1 file (119 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 (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 121; 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.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 8/65 IX RENEWAL of COMMERCIAL TREATY' [‎78r] (155/242), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/261, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100059466703.0x00009c> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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