"ملف ٢٠/٨: شؤون دولة مسقط: احتجاج العمانيين" [و‎‎٢‎١‎٩] (٦٣٤/٤٣٧)

I think that it is certainly advisable to bring pressure
t bear on the rebels, and that the measures suggested by Itr.
Wingate can be easily enforced and may possibly bring the
Omanis to reason, and should be given trial. It is true that
the second measure proposed, viz zakat on pomegranates was
directed against fhaikh Hamyar bin Nasir, and that this in
dividual is dead, but presumably some relatives and tribesmen
of his will be hit by the tax, and I think it snould be enforced
I have, to the best of my recollection, on former occasions
opposed the levy of excessive zakat by the Sultan, but this has
been on occasions when tax has been erfo'ced suddenly, and its
incidence has, to a considerbale extent at all events, fallen
on British Indian exporters or purchasers of date crops. If
consicderbale notice is ‘given, and now that British Indian mer
chants have apparently ceased to buy up in advance, or give
heavy advances, date crops up country, there seems, as hr.
Wingate says, no danger of any portion of the zakat falling on
British traders - nor even, as the Muscat date crop does not,
I imagine, affect the world market to any appreciable extort,
on the consumer.
As regards the question of the Indian Customs Department
co-operating with the Oman Customs, which is again raised by
Mr. Wingate, I have already expressed my views; I am doubtful
if the scheme will commend itsblf to Government as it will
certainly ±fe be^to some extent^ restraint on trade, an^ in any
case I doubt if it would be effective for long as dhows simply
would not cloar for Oman ports but for Persian or Arab ports
in tne neighbourhood, from.which extensive smuggling operations
would take place.
My idea is that the present is a favourable opportunity
to assist the Sultan to recover his general Suzerainty over Oman.;
I 3m ret think he can ever expect to have the tribes under his
direct control but merely recognition as paramount authority
in the neighbourhood. Occasionally when particularly powerful
the