مجموعة ٢٩/٣٥ "الخليج الفارسي: مسألة الدفع للسلطان نظير مرافق التلغراف في مسقط" [و‎‎٣‎٣] (٣٣٧/٦٥)

your attention to the second
2 -
I nclosed
Is
copy of the Political Kesident’s letter to omrfDivisional
Manager, dated 3rd November, 1942, relating to the nature
and extent of traffic agreed to be handled by B.C.A.C.
When the proposed negotiations commence, the Political
Authorities may no doubt desire to clarify this point in
the Concession itself. You will, no doubt, recall that in
both the Bahrain and Koweit Concessions this particular •
provision was amended to cover the rights of the various
oil companies concerned.
At the end of Article 5, provision is made for the
continued payment to His Highness of the sum of £1 per annum
for each cable landed in his territory. I specifically
mention this, merely because of the absence of any such payment
in the case of Bahrain. As further consideration for the
granting of the desired Concession free message facilities
will undoubtedly be requested by His Highness. If so, we
should be prepared to agree to a limit of 1,500 free words
annually as in the case of Koweit, although the number could
be extended to 3,000, as at Bahrain, should the Political
Authorities consider this necessary. You may feel that this
is a point which might be left to the negotiator on the spot.
tie do not propose to instruct our Divisional Manager
to proceed with negotiating the Concession until we have
received the oultan’s approval to the proposed telephones
scheme. In the meantime, however, perhaps you would, as in
the other two cases, be good enough first to have the draft
examined by interested Departments and in due course let me
have any observations which may be offered.
One matter on which I am not too clear is this: the
Deed is expressed to be entered into between the sultan in
exercise of his powers as head of the Government of Muscat and
Oman and I am wondering to wnat extent it could be considered
binding on his successors. Possibly it may be regarded as a
matter of little moment and, perhaps from the political aspect,
undesirable to suggest any amendment, but is it not just
possible that the Deed, as drawn, might be capable of repudiation?
enc/
H. P. Donaldson, Ksq. , C.M.G.
Yours sincerely,