"معاهدة مسقط" [و‎‎١‎٨‎٣] (٥٣٧/٣٨٣)

A
foreigners in general. In practice ? however ? owing to the
influence exercised there through the Government of India and
the political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Muscat stands in a
special position which has considerable resemblance to that of
a British protected State. In the case of British protected
states - as for example the Persian Gulf Sheikhdoms of Koweit
and Bahrein - it is assumed th^t His I.Iajesty's Government in
the Union would not think of questioning the right of His
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to exercise juris
diction over the rights of persons belonging to the Union as
over other classes of British subjects? and other non-natives
such as United States citizens or French nationals. Having
regard to the special position of Muscatj it is thought that
the Union Government may feel it preferable to adopt a similar
attitude to the exercise of extra-territorial jurisdiction in
Muscat and not to regard it as necessary to indicate by one or
other of the means outlined above that authority in the
territory concerned over British subjects belonging to the
Union is exercised on the advice of Ills Majesty's Government in
the Union. An early expression of the views of the Union
Government on the question of the Order in Council for cae
continued exercise of extra-territorial jurisdiction ox iuuscat
would be appreciated j as we should like to proceeo. as soon as
possible with the drafting of the necessary Order.
The necessity for bringing the new Treaty into xorce
next February and the time required for the various legal
formalities would make it very desirable to put this in hand at
the latest by the middle of December ? and 3 if we have not heard
further from the Union Government by then; we trust that we may
assume that they concur in a draft being prepared on the basis
suggested above.
Yours sincerely 5
Sd. Devonshire.