"ملف ٢٠/٨: شؤون دولة مسقط: احتجاج العمانيين" [و‎‎١‎٦‎٣] (٦٣٤/٣٢٥)

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been received from the Omen customs thet the duty hes been
paid* This will have an astonishing* effect on the Omanis
and the more recalcritant ports, in addition to increasing the
state revenue. Immediate orders are solicited on this proposal*
"he export of coffee from Indie will only be permitted
under pass from the Sultan or his wezir countersifxed. by the
P*A. This will also be notified*
I should not be in the least surprised if the mere , ^
announcement of these proposed measures brought the Omanis to
reason. For this propose I propose to have one thousand of the
notices printed in Arabic in India end to he signed by the
Sultan. These can be sent to the wazir who will arranre to
have them distributed all over the coast and the interior*
It must he borne in mind that nov/ the Omanis have no
offensive power for the very simple reason that they have no
cartridges for their rifles. In addition they got a severe
lesson once and are not likely to trj 7, again. This touches on
the important question of the retention of the regiment. In my
opinion there is no need for the regiment to remain at Futtrah
beyond December of this year, and I only advocate their staying
the hot weather as while we are enforcing our punitive measures
(which do not require a regiment for offensive or defensive)
it would help us to frighten the Omanis as much as possible*
But definite arrangements should he made for it to go then*
As long as there is one of H.M's ships within close cell
of Muscat we can support the authority of the Sultan quite
adequately* With a British Officer as adviser a moderately
efficient force can be organized, at any rete sufficient to
keep the Omanis from attacking Muttrah if they do not come to
heel. I am submitting a separate note on the measures to be
taken to give the Sultan some effective authority.
Now the Omanis have virtually turned down our proposals
our position is very strong. We have given them every chance.
Our line now is to back the Sultan and increese his prestifre.
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