مجموعة ٢٩/٣٥ "الخليج الفارسي: مسألة الدفع للسلطان نظير مرافق التلغراف في مسقط" [و‎‎٤‎١] (٣٣٧/٨١)

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EXPRESS LETTER
JNo.981-3 of 1942.
/ 3 i o
British Residency & Gonjs^lje^te
To
Repeated
General, BushireV'-
22nd September 1942.
The Secretary to the Government of India,
External Affaire Department, flew Delhi.
His Majesty^ Secretary of Statefor India,
London.
The Political Agent, Muscat.
J
Reference India Office Printed Letter No.Ext.
2700 dated the 6th June 1942.
2. It is regretted that through an oversight the
Government of India have not previously been addressed on the
subject of Cable and Wireless rights at Muscat.
3. Messrs. Cable and Wireless Limiited appear to
have no exclusive rights for communication by wireless in
Muscat territory. The Sultan»s original permission to them
to instal a wireless set conveys no such rights vide the
enclosure to this Residency Printed Le tter flo. 2 5l-S of the
25th March 19 39. The Company *s claim that their wireless
license is exclusive because it is linked with their cable
license which is exclusive cf. the enclosure to Muscat Express
I-c11er^No.0/47dat ed the 2lst March 1939, a copy of which was
forwarded under this Residency memora ndu m flo,286-S, dated the
31st March 1939, is baaed on the correspondence with the
Sultan, a copy of which was forwarded with Re sidencyjmemorandum
vul^j[o_..47.2-3^ dated the loth May 1939. In the absence of express
evidence to the contrary l do not think this can be held to
confer any exclusive rights of wireless communication and 1
read the phrase "the terms of the license" in the Political
Agent’s letter as referring to the period of validity and rent
stated in it. The wireless set is described as "emergency"
and no exclusive rights appear to have been sought for it
vide the Company’s letter of the 18th February 1939, a cony
of which is enclosed.
4. in vifcw of the above i suggest that a reply be sent to
the Company that although their contention that they have
been granted exclusive rights for communication by wireless
in Muscat is open to question, the British Overseas Airv^ays
^orporc-ition at the request of His Majesty’s Government have
agreed that the traffic they handlje in Muscat territory will
oe restricted to messages necessary to ensure the safety of
air navigation and the regularity of air traffic. At the
same time it would be wise to tell the Company that we are
not willing to ask the Sultan to clarify the position with
regard to the grant to them of exclusive rights of wireless
communication for so long as the war lasts in accordance
with the attitude we have already taken up over the same
question at Bahrain and Kuwait cf. India Office Express
Letter No . Ext .# 76-29/ 41, .dated the 3rd December 194i (copy
not sent to Muscat).
Attested.
Sd. W.R.HAY.
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.
Sd • J. Croning.
for Secretary to the Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf