'File 9/5 Naval & Shipping: Facilities for Royal Navy at Muscat Sultanate' [‎107r] (213/270)

phCIiLT
Off ic« of Urn
Senior Naval Qfflcar
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. t
IUU.&. “WILD CQKXE.* 1
7th January f 1947*
The Han'bla tha Political Ha&ldant 9 Persian Ciilf.
Vvlth reference to your letter 3~& of 2nd January f
\947t the present state of affairs at Khor Kmai is that
with one exception all the naval Base buildings are contained
on the peninsular SM SAL IB at the North East tip of the island.
£. the exception to the above is the transnitting
station &n6 three fc/T Masts with a %/t earth array, which is
sited about five hundred yards due west of lias Salih on top of
a hill about 160 feet high. The whole is contained in an area
about 200 by 120 feet.
3. TIjs whole base is in Care and Haintei^ance under ti*
charge of a Caretaker and about six local coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. t who are paid
and provided with certain rations by the Loyal Navy. Hone of
the buildings are used by the Hoyal Navy other than by tills
ceretaking party.
4. It is known that Their Lordships attaeh Ui± greatest
importance to the retention of fChor Kuval and its facilities -
particularly the b/T station - in case of the general situation
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. should at any time deteriorate.
6. From the papers that are available, there is little
doubt that the scale of the base far exceeds any tiling visualised
when first permission to use the Island way granted by His
Highness the Sultan of Musest in 103C/36* *n particular the
, erection of the Transmitting Station might be considered an
encroachment. ^
O • o v *
6* Under these circumstances, it is requested that the
Question of their retention in situ may be raised with the
Lultan and ills permission obtained. It is presumed that the
subsidiary Agreement mentioned in the minutes of a conversation
field ;:*tw**n Senior Naval Officer Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and C.G.P. in
1943, forwarded to me in your No.24*m of 3rd January, 1947,
still holds for any future period of hostilities.
7. This matter was discussed with 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. ,
Muscat on 7th January, and I m given to understand that the
retention of buildings on Khor Kuuai is not objected to provided
that the question of rent, now that the war subsidy has been
withdrawn, can be settled*
8* It would seem, therefore, that this question will
have to be raised with the appropriate Government department,
and X am therefore sending a copy of this correspondence to the
Cor&ander*in-Chlef, Last Indies station for fils information.
(bGL.) B.J.fUDEMpy,
Captain, B*N.
Lenlor Kaval Officer,
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
NFC.
*(forv.arding copy of Muscat letter No.C.842-9/5 dated
20th December 1946, and its enclosure).