File 4535/1928 Pt 8 ‘ – PERSIAN GULF – QUESTION OF ESTABLISHMENT OF PROTECTORATES OVER KOWEIT, BAHREIN, MUSCAT, TRUCIAL COAST.’ [‎67r] (127/194)

38. The Government of India endeavoured to meet the situation, to the
seriousness of which the Sultan was fully alive, by lending for four months a
highh qualified European customs official, i\Ir. Eower, to reorganise the
Muscat customs. At the same time, they agreed, at the request of the
Sultan, to find a competent Englishman to serve as Financial Adviser, look
r after the finances of the Slate, and aid His Highness and the Council with
advice. The Arab Advisory Council established in 1920 (see para. 35)
lad proved of no leal assistance tne Sultan in 1924 had complained that
they.were, “though very worthy persons . . . absolutely useless as
administiatois, apart from which they would never come to a decision about
any matter, even unimportant questions ” ; and 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. agreed * Tel. 22 T. from
that the difficulty was to get them to give a decided opinion on anv ^ es - to G.of 1 .,
Subject.”*' ' ~
39. The post of Financial Adviser was offered to Mr. B. S. Thomas,
O.B.E., formerly Assistant British representative in Trans-Jordania, who
assumed duty in April 1925, and in 1926 was appointed Wazir Minister. and a
member of the Muscat Advisory Council, functioning primarilv as Finance
Minister, but exercising also a full share in the general government of the
State.| Mr. Thomas, who is the servant of the State and not of His t Letter 163 s. from
Majesty’s Government, was engaged on a contract for five years, with P^.f 68 - to G - of C
six months leave after three years, plus one month’s leave a year, and pay of p ^2077/26. ’
Rs. 1,500 100 2,000. 4 he terms of his service were approved by the
Government of India. ‘ p. 4289 / 24 .
40. The result of the steps referred to above has been a very marked '
improvement. By April 1925 the financial situation could be” reported
more satisfactory than it has been for some years ; by June the State
was reported solvent, and despite§ fluctuations in trade which have been
reflected in decrease of revenue, the improvement has been maintained.
An extensive Public Works programme has been initiated, a patrol steamer
has been .seemed,jj lepayment of the State indebtedness has progressed
satisfactorily ; in 1927 the Government of India felt justified in agreeing to
the extension by 2i- years of the period of repayment of the outstanding
balance of the loan granted in 1919 (paras. 28 and 31) above, to enable the
State to open a primary school and make other minor improvements, and in
the same year 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. was able to claim that His Majesty’s
Government “have put the finances of the State on a sound basis.”|f The
situation is the more satisfactory as the 200 miles of quite thickly
inhabited coastline, and the powerful and often hostile hinterland, necessitate
the maintenance by Muscat of establishments “ on a scale which would
appear absurd in a place like Bahrein or Koweit.”**
41. The improvement referred to above has been secured for rather
than by the Sultan, although His Highness has on occasion shown a definite
interest in the action taken.ff Sir L. Haworth in March 1928 reported that
the Sultan is. practically worthless as a Ruler, though he takes a certain
interest in seeing that others rule for him.” The Resident continued,
It was not thought advisable in 1920 to allow him to abdicate, nor do 1
think it desirable now. An absentee Sultan who does not interfere with the
Government has its advantages. It has enabled us to make the arrangement
by which with a Council and a British Wazir Minister. the finances of the State have
been, put in order, and there is every hope that in a very few years .
it will commence a new career in flourishing circumstances. Until the
Sultans son is old enough to take over the reins, the Sultan should if
possible continue.’’JJ
42. The cloud on the horizon at the moment is the attitude of the tribes
at our, the second port of Oman. A critical stage has not been reached,
although the local Amir of Jaalan has set up an independent customs
administration, but 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. apprehends that should the Amir
endeavour to throw off his allegiance to the Sultan and establish an
independent dominion similar to that of the Omanis of the interior, the very
considerable reduction of the Sultan’s dominions and revenues which would
be involved might necessitate active economic pressure by His Majesty’s
‘Government on the Sur tribes on behalf of His Highness.§§
3064 ' ' B
+ Letter 102 S. from
Pol. Res. to G. of I.,
April 5 1925,
P. 1516/25.
§ Letter 276 S. from
Pol. Res. to G. of I.,
Aug\ 8 1925,
P.3055/25.
|| Letter from Pol.
Agent to Pol. Res.,
Dec. 8 1925,
P. 321/26.
Pol. Res. to G. of
L, Nov. 27 1927,
P. 1343/28.
** Report by Pol.
Agent, Oct. 12 1921,
P. 5435/21.
ft Letter from Pol.
Agent to Pol. Res.,
Aug. 5 1926,
P. 3301/26.
++ Letter 199 S. from
Pol. Res. to G. of L,
Mar. 2 1928,
P. 1592/28.
§§ Letter 167 S.from
Pol. Res. to G. of 1
April 20 1928,
P. 2760/28.