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'File 8/82 MUSCAT STATE AFFAIRS: GWADUR IMPROVEMENTS.' [‎5r] (9/556)

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The record is made up of 1 file (276 folios). It was created in 14 Feb 1945-27 Apr 1947. It was written in English, Arabic and Urdu. 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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POLITICAL AGENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
MUSCAT
CONFIDENTIAL
EXPRESS LETTER
From POLITICAL MUSCAT
TO BRITCONSUL BUSHIRE
No.C.363-8/82.
Dated Muscat, the 9th March, 1945.
Reference ray telegram No.S.221 of the 16th February, 1946.
2. The Sultan states that he will pay all expenses up to the
limit of the Gwadur income which amounts to about one lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. a year. Using this figure as a basis the following rough
estimate demonstrates the practicability of the proposal from
a financial point of view j-
(a) British Officer*s pay, leave, pension contribution
etc. Rs.
(b) Accommodation .. .. •• Rs.
(c) Office staff etc. .. .. .. Rs.
(d) Education .. .. .. -Rs.
(e) Medical .. .. •• Rs.
(f) Sanitation .. ... .. Rs.
(g) Muscat Officials, Customs etc. .. .. Rs.
(h) Miscellaneous developments etc. .. .. Rs.
20 , 000 /-
6 , 000 /-
6 , 000 /-
10 , 000 /-
10 , 000 /-
6 , 000 /-
16,000/-
30,000/-
3.- Gwadur is a small town of some 12,000 inhabitants of whom
about half are British Aghakhani subjects. There are also at
least two villages. There is no form of sanitary service though
there is a municipal committee which owing to local friction is
inoperative. There is one small ^rab school and the Aghakhanis
have some schooling arrangements. There are no police, and, so
far as I know, no local court. Some dozen or so Askars keep the
peace. There are no medical facilities. Most of the revenue
is derived from the customs and the fishing industry. The
latter is capable, I think, of considerable development. It is
not improbable that the area may again come into importance as a
landing ground for aircraft both sea and land. Reasonable
administration would benefit India directly in trade matters.
4. It will, therefore, be seen that there is work for a
British Officer in administering the territory and organising
ordinary civil and municipal services, but the necessity for
providing one at the present time of shortage of officers is not
so. apparent. There is, of course, no urgency from the point of
view of the Gwadur public, but air development may demand the
presence of a reliable official. The duration of the appointment,
if made, is difficult to estimate, and I think that it might be
on a yearly basis.
6. Even if the urgency is not apparent from an administrative
point of view, the Sultan-has asked us for assistance in a
project of development and improved administration and we should,
I think, provide the assistance with as little delay as possible.
If we do not he may turn elsewhere which would be most undesirable
I hope, therefore, that you will be able to make arrangements
for the loan of a suitable officer to the Muscat State for
administering Gwadur in the fairly near future. If the Govern
ment of India are unable to depute an officer, you might perhaps
consider employing an officer from the Training Centre in Arabic
Studies, Jerusalem.
^ 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.
'-'W

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Content

This file relates to the Muscat territory of Gwadur [Gwadar, Pakistan; it is written as Gwadar in some of the correspondence].

The file begins with discussion of a proposal from the Sultan of Muscat and Oman [Sa‘īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd] to devote the whole of his Gwadur revenue to the improvement of the administration and provision of public services in the territory. The correspondence goes on to cover the appointment of an Indian administrator to carry out reforms in Gwadur, under the authorisation of the Sultan.

Related matters covered in the file include the following: the views of the British Agent, Gwadur, on the most urgently required reforms at Gwadur; travel and accommodation arrangements for the newly appointed administrator and his family; details of proposed reforms in various areas, such as health and education, and plans for the founding of a municipal department at Gwadur; the administrator's resignation, following a period of ill health, and the recruitment of his successor; attempts by the British to recruit more personnel (e.g. teachers, medical officers and sanitary inspectors) from India to work in Gwadur. Included in the file is a small amount of received correspondence from various candidates applying for the aforementioned positions.

The file's principal correspondents are the following: 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, Muscat; 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. ; the British Agent, Gwadur; the Administrator, Gwadur; the Sultan of Muscat and Oman [Sa‘īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd]; officials of the British Government of India's External Affairs Department.

The Arabic language material consists of received correspondence from the Sultan of Muscat and Oman (English translations are included). The material written in Urdu consists of one item of correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (276 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. Circled serial numbers (red for received correspondence; blue/black for issued correspondence) refer to entries in the notes at the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 278; 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-255; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English, Arabic and Urdu in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 8/82 MUSCAT STATE AFFAIRS: GWADUR IMPROVEMENTS.' [‎5r] (9/556), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/274, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100060344478.0x00000a> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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