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File XXXII/12 '1. Finances. 2. Customs Duties (Sur). 3. Financial Crisis, 1931. 4. Treaties with France and America' [‎65v] (135/266)

The record is made up of 1 file (129 folios). It was created in 18 Dec 1928-31 Dec 1930. 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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Letter to the Secretary, Political Department, 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. , London,
No. F. 225-N., dated THE 4th September 1929.
I am directed to refer to the correspondence ending with the letter
No. 94-S. of 1929, dated the 2nd April, from the Hon’ble the Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and enclosure [Serial No. (1)], of which a
copy was forwarded to II. M.’s Secretary of State tor India, on the sub-
ject of the finances of Muscat.
2. From the papers forwarded to His Majesty’s Secretary of State
with Foreign Secretary’s letters Nos. 78-M. and 31-M., dated the 27th
September 1923 and 17th April 1924, respectively [Serial Nos. (2) and (14)
in File No. 749-X[23], it will be seen that in 1924 a similar proposal to that
now made by 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. for the raising of the tariff was not
adopted by the Government of India, though they implied their prepared
ness to entertain it in the last resort. Their reason was the anticipated
difficulty with France and the United States of America in connection
with the connnercial treaties, guaranteeing the 5 per cent, maximum rate,
between those countries and Muscat.
3. Muscat affairs have of late shown a tendency to deteriorate. The
integrity of the state is admittedly of great importance in view of its
position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and the recommendation, re
newed as it is after mature consideration in view of the growing danger
of dissolution with which the kingdom is faced, seems now to call for more
careful review.
4. There seems little doubt that the present trouble in Muscat is
largely financial, and the Government of India concur with the Political
Resident that the best hope of restoring the Sultan’s prestige and control
lies in a permanent strengthening of his State finances. The causes of
their present weakness are well analysed by 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. . The
principal causes are evidently permanent, and there is little prospect of
an unaided recovery in the normal ebb and flow of commercial prosperity.
5. The tariff increase suggested as a remedy, namely from 5 per cent,
to 7J per cent, generally, and 15 per cent, on alcohol and cigarettes, is
slight, and if it were not for the international difficulty, there would seem
to be little room for hesitation in adopting it. The extent to which
opposition from France and the United States of America is to be
apprehended is a matter on which the Government of India are hardly
competent to judge. They trust however that those difficulties will not
be found insurmountable ; indeed there seems reason to hope that America
at least (though France may make some difficulty on political grounds)
will not seriously object to a slight raising of the customs duty fixed over-
three-quarters of a century ago at a rate which, in the light‘of modern
tariffs, appears trivial. The financial interest of both countries in the
proposal is believed to be negligible.
6. If His Majesty’s Government agree, the Resident will be asked to
approach the Sultan with a view to his formally requesting H. M. G. to
approach the F rench and American Governments on his behalf in the
matter.
. . Cor> l to Hon’ble 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. for
wSTseS K?, (l7] erenee t0 hiS ,etter No - 94 ‘ S -’ dated the 2,1(1 April
(S)
* Telegram P., from the Secretary of State for India. London No 3G74
B™: Na T 3d75 OVEMBER 1929 ' (REm P ™ :
Reference your Secretarv’s letter F 225-N SenWiW ail ro ■ i
N o. (2)]. Mn.cat. Pta., „, v |, 0 |„ l ;5 agg’BA JW
* Original copy on File No. 334JN.-29. "

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Content

This file contains correspondence between British officials (primarily 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 Bushire and 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. in London) concerning economic problems in the Sultanate of Muscat and the consequent need to raise its customs tariffs in order to increase state revenue. Much of the correspondence relates to potential issues that this proposed increase could cause with the United States of America and France due to treaties those two countries previously agreed with the Sultan of Muscat.

In addition to internal correspondence between British officials, the file also contains a limited amount of correspondence with US and French diplomats and one letter in Arabic (with English translation) from the Sultan of Muscat, Taymūr bin Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd(folios 52-53).

In addition to correspondence, the file contains the following documents:

  • 'Note on the Financial Aspect of Our Policy [in Muscat]' 1928 (folios 5-6)
  • 'List of the monthly allowances paid by the Muscat Govt. to the Frontier Shaikhs. 1927' (folio 48)
  • Draft revised treaty between the United States of America and the Sultan of Muscat (folios 120-121).
Extent and format
1 file (129 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 131; 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 5-128; 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 and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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File XXXII/12 '1. Finances. 2. Customs Duties (Sur). 3. Financial Crisis, 1931. 4. Treaties with France and America' [‎65v] (135/266), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/6/49, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100063310110.0x000088> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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