"ملف ٤/ ٦ الزيارات الرسمية بين قادة السفن البريطانية، وشيوخ البحرين والكويت وقطر والساحل المتصالح." [و‎‎٣‎٠] (١٢٨/٥٩)

From
To
The Secretary to the Government of India,
External Affairs Department,
New Delhi,
Copy to - The Political Agent, Muscat.^
Memorandum No.934-S. Dated the 17th November, 1945.
Gun Salutes and ceremonials
in the Persian Gulf.
Reference India Office Express Letter No.
P.Z.677/37 Gated the 25th March 1937, and connected
correspondence•
2. Some doubt has arisen in regard to the
correct procedure to be adopted in regard to the
exchange of ceremonial calls at Muscat between the
Political Resident, Persian Gulf, and the official
deputyof H.H. the Sultan of Muscat, in the latter*s
absence. When the Council of Ministers was in exist
ence the Council as a whole was accorded a salute of
17 guns, and the Political Resident, whose salute is
13 guns, apparently paid the first call on the Council.
The Council of Ministers was disolved by the present
Sultan in 1932, and in 1937 the Table of Salutes was
amended to provide for a salute of 13 guns for the
Sultan*s official deputy if a member of the ruling
family, and 9 guns if not a member of the ruling
family.
3. In recent years only three visits by
Political Residents have been made to Muscat in the
Sultan*s absence, the first in 1938 by Sir Trenchard
Fowle, the second in 1941 by Lt.Col. Hay, and the
third in this year by myself. On all th£se occasions
the Political Resident paid the first call on the
Sultan*s official deputy, Saiyid Shahab, a member of
the ruling family. I am doubtful, however, whether
the procedure that has been followed in these instances
is correct. There is an obvious difference in status
between the Council of Ministers as a whole and a
single individual, and I am of opinion that as the
salute accorded to the latter is not higher than that
of the Political Resident, the first call should be
paid by the Sultan*s deputy. I should be glad of a
/decision.... \