Abstract: The report No. 27 of 1866, dated 17 March 1866, addresses the question of a complete Land Line of Telegraph and submits to government propositions on the question based on Goldsmid's recent travels.There are numerous enclosures to the report:Report by Major Robert Murdoch Smith, 7 March 1866, submitted to Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick John Goldsmid of the journey they undertook from Teheran [Tehran] to Bam and his own subsequent journey on to Bunder Abbass [Bandar Abbas]. The report documents their examination of the country between Ispahan [Isfahan] and Gwadur [Gwadar] with a view to continuing and ultimately uniting the Persian and Mekran Coast Land Lines of Telegraph. (ff. 5-12)Enclosed with Major Smith's report is a copy of another report submitted by W P Johnston, British Agent at Busreh [Basra] on the country between Jashk [Jask] and Sooruf on the Southern Coast of Beloochistan [Baluchistan]. (ff. 13-14)Lieutenant-Colonel Goldsmid also enclosed a copy of his letter to Major Smith, No.1 of 1866 written 20 January 1866, given to Major Smith at the point they travelled in separate directions in order to undertake their examinations and including, for him, a copy of his own official notes and data relating to his journey from Sabristan to Chonbar via Bampur. (ff. 15-22)Map showing the boundary of Persia as it had traditionally been assumed and as it had now been ascertained [boundary with India], April 1866. (f. 23 )Map showing Lieutenant-Colonel Goldsmid and Major Smith's route from Ispahan to Choubar [Chombar] and Bunder Abbas, April 1866. (f. 24)The report is accompanied by a cover note from the Indo-European Telegraph Department, 25 April 1866, instructing that copies of Lieutenant-Colonel Goldsmid's report be forwarded to the Government of India and the British Government. On the reverse of the cover note are handwritten instructions, No.1232 of 1866, from Charles Gonne, dated 2 May 1866, instructing that a copy of the report be forwarded to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lewis Pelly).Physical description: The file has been foliated in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio with a pencil number enclosed in a circle.
Abstract: The volume comprises correspondence in English and Arabic between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven Fowle), the Political Agent at Muscat (Ralph Ponsonby Watts), the India Office (John Percival Gibson, John Charles Walton), the Secretary to the Government of India, External Affairs Department (Olaf Kirkpatrick Careo, William Rupert Hay), the Agent to the Governor General for Baluchistan (Alfred Alan Lethbridge Parsons), the Sultan of Muscat (Sayyid Sa‘īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd), the Burmah Oil Company (William Ernest V Abraham, W A Gray, John H L Brownrigg) and Indian Oil Concessions Limited (Hamilton R Ballantyne, Lloyd Nelson Hamilton, Joseph Paul McCulloch) regarding a possible concession for the Jabal-i-Mehdi [Koh Mehdi] area of Gwadur [Gwadar] belonging to the Sultan of Muscat.The correspondence covers initial enquiries by both companies to His Majesty’s Government expressing interest in a concession through to the commencement of negotiations and the submission of draft concession agreements for the Sultan’s consideration.Also discussed in the volume is the boundary between Gwadur and Kalat [Kalāt] which would need to be demarcated before approval could be given for an oil concession at Gwadur. The correspondence discusses relations between the Khan of Kalat (Aḥmad Yār K̲h̲ān) and the Sultan of Muscat, including recent disagreements between both parties over customs and trade, and suggesting possible processes that could be followed in order to demarcate the boundary.A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 206-216.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 221; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 6-216; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: Correspondence, memoranda, minutes, and notes regarding oil exploration rights in Gwadur [Gwadar]. Competition for the oil concession in Gwadur was between Indian Oil Concessions Limited and Burmah Oil Company Limited. The papers concern the negotiations between the two companies and the Sultan of Muscat, whose territory extended to Gwadur. Matters discussed include:the content and wording of the proposed agreements, including several draft copiesthe question of the exact boundaries of Gwadurthe British government's insistence on being consulted by both the companies and the Sultan throughout the processthe question of jurisdiction over foreign subjects in Kalat stateBurmah Oil Company's eventual withdrawal of their interest in the concession.The principal correspondents include officials at the India Office, Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, Political Agency at Muscat, Government of India (External Affairs Department), Petroleum Department, and the Admiralty, as well as Hamilton R Ballantyne, legal representative of Indian Oil Concessions Limited, and representatives of the Burmah Oil Company.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 332; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-332; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: Correspondence, notes, and memoranda relating to relations between Kalat State and Gwadur [Gwadar], the latter being part of the Sultan of Muscat's territory.the Kalat State's request for postal and telegraphic offices to be established at Jiuni [Jīwanī] and for British India Steam Navigation Company steamers to make fortnightly calls therethe Burmah Oil Company Limited's application for an oil prospecting licence in the Gwadur areathe demarcation of the boundary between the two territories, necessitated largely by oil explorationthe Sultan's complaints about a blockade of Gwadur by the Kalat State and encroachments over the border by Kalat State officials and American geologistsarrangements for a meeting between the Sultan of Muscat and the Khan of Kalat (which never took place)the Royal Air Force's use of facilities in Gwadur and Jiwanithe question of the strategic importance of Gwadur to the British and whether to induce the Sultan to sell the enclave back to the Kalat Statethe status of Kalat following India's independence and the creation of the Dominion of Pakistan, including a memorandum by the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations, dated 12 September 1947, that deals with the legislative and political relations between certain 'Princely States' and the Dominion of India (folios 42-51).The principal correspondents include the Government of India (External Affairs Department), Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, Political Agent at Kalat and Chagai, Agent to the Governor-General in Baluchistan, Political Agent at Muscat, Admiralty, Air Ministry, British Agent at Gwadur, Commonwealth Relations Office, and the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in Pakistan.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 203; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-203; these numbers are also written in pencil and circle.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: Correspondence relating to a case of deportation of a British Indian subject from Gwadur [Gwadar]. The papers give details of the criminal case proceedings (theft) and the deportation order made under The Muscat Order in Council, 1939.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 5; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file concerns arrangements for the opening of a post and telegraph office at Gwadur [Gwadar, Pakistan], operated by Cable and Wireless, and the telegraph lines between Muscat and Gwadur.The file contains correspondence between the Political Agent at Muscat, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, the India Office, the Foreign Office, the UK General Post Office, the Commonwealth Relations Office, the Government of Pakistan, and Cable and Wireless Limited.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 58; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: This part contains: correspondence (and a list of the correspondence) between the India Office and the Government of India, regarding the payment of dollar exchange compensation allowance for Government employees at Bahrain and Koweit [Kuwait], and for postal staff at Dubai, Gwadur [Gwadar] and Bahrein [Bahrain]; and India Office minute papers and notes about the correspondence.The correspondence largely consists of letters from the Government of India forwarding statements showing the amount of dollar exchange compensation allowance paid each quarter.Physical description: 1 item (72 folios)
Abstract: The volume contains correspondence in the form of telegrams, letters and memoranda between representatives of the British Government, Imperial Airways and the Sultan of Muscat and Oman, Sa‘id bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd. The correspondence in the volume is related to the following: the Muscat Air Navigation Regulations, 1936; sanctions to be applied in the event of the breaches of the Kuwait, Bahrain and Muscat Air Navigation Regulations; revision of the financial clauses of the Kuwait, Bahrain and Muscat Civil Air Agreements; communications regarding the Imperial Airways’ special Christmas flight; copies of special authorisation for aircraft to land in and fly over Muscat and Oman issued, signed and sealed by the Sultan; the increased rent for Gwadur aerodrome and refund of duty on fuel; and copies of draft air navigation regulations sent by the Political Agent at Muscat to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman for amendments and approval.The volume also includes correspondence with Imperial Airways regarding their charges for attendance and facilities at Gwadur and their scales for both commercial and private aircraft. Imperial Airways in turn asked the Political Agent at Muscat to communicate on their behalf with the Sultan in matters that are related to the refund of fuel duties at Gwadur. Imperial Airways provided lists of outstanding refund claims (ff 173-195) of recoverable duty on petrol and oil at Gwadur, the lists covering the period from 26 October 1934 to 31 December 1936. The next claims were sent at quarters ending 31 March 1937 and 30 June 1937 respectively.The volume also includes correspondence between the Political Agent, Muscat; and the Political Resident, Bushire regarding obtaining authority from the Sultan for the refusal of permission for private civil flights over the Arabian territories of Muscat and Oman.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 282; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-282; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
Abstract: The volume contains telegrams, and letters between British officials and the Sultan of Muscat and Oman related to the signing of a civil air agreement between the two governments. The volume includes drafts of the Muscat Civil Air Agreement both in Arabic and in English (ff 13-30). These were shared with the Sultan for amendments and further discussions. On 25 October 1934, an agreement valid for four years (ff 74-96) was signed between Major Claude Edward Bremner, the Political Agent, Muscat, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government and Sa‘id bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd, the Sultan of Muscat and Oman on behalf of the Government of Muscat and Oman. The contents of the agreement are the following:Air navigation regulations for civil aircraft made by His Highness the Sultan of Muscat and OmanHeads of agreement between His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the SultanConditions laid down with the approval of the Sultan to govern the use of the aerodrome at MuscatSpecial authorisation for aircraft to land in and fly over MuscatExtract from Air Ministry notice to airmenHousing fees.Alterations to the agreement were discussed among the two parties, which resulted in a modified copy of the agreement (ff 208-223) that was signed on 20 March 1935.Other issues discussed in the volume are the following: the British Government’s expectation of the use free of charge of existing or future service facilities for the Royal Air Force in Muscat territory, and that the military aircraft belonging to or employed in the service of His Majesty shall at all times enjoy priorities; the use of the facility at Gwadur by private aircraft; and the question of whether to allow French and Dutch aircraft to use the facilities in Muscat territories and the conditions around that.The main correspondents in the volume are: the Political Agent, Muscat; the Political Resident, Bushire; the Secretary of State for India, London; India Office, Whitehall; Air Ministry, London and the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 322; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.