File XXXII/12 '1. Finances. 2. Customs Duties (Sur). 3. Financial Crisis, 1931. 4. Treaties with France and America' [‎68v] (141/266)

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disposed for the time being to adopt a waiting attitude, and to see whether
the new Resident will be able to do something to remedy Ins tanaea
grievances, before finally and definitely abdicating. ts c e^ire
(•ate is, I believe, largely due to his alleged grievances against the British
Government and their local representatives in the past. 1 c nn ^s
an opportunity offered for recovering inland Oman after the repulse )>
Indian troops of Isa Bin Saleh’s attack on Muttrah m 1915 and that it
was the British Government who refused to allow him to take advantage
of it thus humbling him before Isa bin Saleh with whom and his lannB tie
has a long-standing blood feud, and he further considers that he has not
been adequately supported over Sur affairs. If the two matters to which
he attaches importance, namely, the re-habilitation of the finances of ms
state and the re-establishment of his authority on the coast, can he settled
to his satisfaction, I have hopes—though it is much too soon yet to express
a definite opinion—that His Highness may take a renewed interest in the
affairs of his state and that it may be possible to ward off for some years
at any rate the long-threatened abdication.
8. Just as I was in the course of drafting this despatch I received a
copy of letter No. P. 6148 of the 28th November 1929, from 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.
to you [Serial No. (4)], and am glad that His Majesty’s Government are
fully apprised of the necessity for the increase of the customs tariff. I am
at once consulting 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. as to the possibility of increasing'
the tariff on goods other than those covered by the terms of the treaties-
with America, France and the Netherlands. Should this be feasible, I
would Strongly urge that the enhanced tariff should be brought into effect
as soon as possible and that negotiations should then be opened with France
and the United States to obtain their agreement to the levy of a similar
duty on any goods which may be imported from those countries. At
present the state cannot pay its way : and even the Levy Corps which is
essential for its defence cannot be maintained at full strength. With the
additional funds thus obtained this could be done while some money would
he available to enable His Highness to entertain in suitable style and to
show customary hospitality to the tribal Shaikhs in the interior, thereby
increasing his influence and perhaps, in course of time, enabling him to
gain some measure of authority.
9. As regards Sur, the British Government have always undertaken
to maintain the authority of the Muscat State on the coast while refusing
to be drawn into quarrels in the interior. It seems essential in pursuance
of this policy to re-establish the authority of the Sultan at Sur. His
Highness’ suggestion that air action should be combined with a naval
bombardment sounds, perhaps from a purely utilitarian point of view,
somewhat ridiculous : I believe however that the moral effect would be
considerable. I met the Senior Naval Officer at Hen jam on the 19th of
December and discussed the matter with him. He expressed the view
that there would be no difficulty in knocking down the customs house
established by the Amir of Jaalan without damaging the rest of the town
since it was an isolated building, and was also inclined to agree that the
presence of a flying boat would have a great moral effect. I could consult
the Air Officer Commanding if so desired and let von know his views. If,
as I anticipate, my letter to the Amir of Jaalan has no effect then I suggest
that the Sultan of Muscat should proceed to Sur in his own yacht
accompanied 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. on hoard one of His Majesty’s sloops
and, if possible, a flying boat. The Sultan would then open negotiations
with the Shaikh of the Beni Bti Ali and unless the latter agreed finally to
abandon all his pretentions to interference in Sur affairs, His Hio-hness
would be at liberty to call on His Majesty’s ship and a living boat, through
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. , to destroy the customs house after due warning I
believe the presence of the Sultan supported by the armed naval and air
\ forces of the British Government would finally convince the Amir of
i Jaalan that His Majesty’s Government were in earnest and that he must
abandon his pretentions to complete independence of Muscat and must