Coll 30/196 ‘Persian Gulf Defence. Muscat. War Subsidy’ [‎185r] (369/864)

Content

The file contains papers relating to the defence of Muscat.

It includes papers regarding: the position of the Sultan of Muscat in the event of the outbreak of war (since he was an independent sovereign and therefore his state would not automatically be on the side of the British Empire in war); the conditions under which the Sultan was prepared to grant the necessary facilities (in particular air facilities) in his territories to the British Government during the Second World War, including a monthly subsidy to the Sultan of 20,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. for the duration of the war and for a period after the cessation of hostilities, and the gift of military equipment; and the decision of the British Government to continue the Muscat War Subsidy after the end of the War until the end of 1946, and to present a token gift of arms and ammunition to the Sultan on the termination of the War Subsidy, in recognition of his assistance during the War.

Much of the file concerns the Muscat War Subsidy Agreement, but it also includes papers relating to the appointment of a Military Adviser to the Sultan of Muscat, and the recruitment of a Commandant of the Muscat Infantry.

The papers mostly consist of correspondence, but they also include: 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. internal minute papers; a copy of a paper entitled ‘Appreciation of the Situation Regarding the Defence of Muscat Against Tribal Attack and Sabotage’, by Major R G Price, Air Headquarters, British Forces in Iraq, January 1939, which includes two photographs [IOR/L/PS/12/3937, f 427]; papers of the War Cabinet Official Committee for Questions Concerning the Middle East, including minutes of the first meeting of the Committee on 22 September 1939, on the subject of Muscat; a note of a meeting to discuss the Muscat War Subsidy, held at 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. on 12 February 1946, between representatives of 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. , the Treasury, the Foreign Office, the Admiralty, the War Office, the Air Ministry, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The main correspondents are as follows: 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. (and the Commonwealth Relations Office from 1947); 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 Admiralty Military Branch; the Foreign Office; the War Office; the Government of India External Affairs Department; the Government of India Defence Department; the Sultan of Muscat and Oman (Saiyid Said bin Taimur); 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 HM Consul, Muscat; the Air Ministry; the Treasury; and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format

1 file (430 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 inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 431; 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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