Abstract: This printed memorandum was received from the Chief Political Officer, Basra, under Sir P Cox's letter (No 3) dated 18 August 1916 (see IOR/L/PS/10/426: 3744/16), and includes a report by Gertrude Lowthian Bell (signed G L B), originally published in the Arab Bulletin, concerning the rebellion against the Sultan of Muscat, Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd, and, subsequently after his death, his son, Taymūr bin Fayṣal Āl Bū Sa‘īd. Bell gives a description of the causes of the rebellion against the Sultan of Muscat, which, in her opinion, were 'partly due to old and deepseated matters of disagreement and partly to the reflex action of modern European politics'. She goes on to describe various events from May 1913 to July 1916, including: the fall of Nizwa [Nizwá] and Izki [Izkī]; the visit of the Viceroy to Muscat in February 1914; the death of Fayṣal; the religious character of the uprising ('Jihad'); and potential peace terms.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; 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 volume comprises correspondence and other papers relating to competing British and French interests in Muscat and Oman at the beginning of the twentieth century. The principal point of contention between British officials, represented by Percy Cox (Muscat Political Agent 1899-1903), was the use of the French flag by Omani vessels, permitted by the French Vice-Consul to Muscat, and regarded by the British as being exploited by the region's slave traders as a means of avoiding interference by British ships.Items of note include a letter from Cox to the Political Resident (Charles Kemball), dated 2 January 1902, discussing relations since 1891 between the Sultan of Muscat and British and French officials, the abuse of the French flag in the town, and the need for diplomatic negotiations between Britain, France and the Sultan to resolve the situation (folios 1F-37). Enclosed with Cox's letter is an eyewitness account (from a British Indian subject residing in Soor [Sur]) of slave trading activity in the town during 1901 (folios 31-35). The file also includes a letter from Cox to his French counterpart (Roger Laronce), dated February 1902, explaining that the Sultan protests at what he describes as the French Government's claims to exercise jurisdiction in Muscat territory over Omani subjects (folios 70-71), and Laronce's reply (folion 73); and a report of a tour of the Muscat coast aboard HMS "Amphritite" by Cox (folios 120-22) and Charles Windham, the "Amphritites's" captain (folios 147-49).Reference is made in a number of pieces of correspondence to a confrontation between Arab slave traders and the Portuguese in Mozambique on 18 March 1902 (folios 117-118, and 140-141). In May 1903 Cox writes to the Political Resident, informing him that he has received information from the British Vice-Consul at Mozambique, of around 100 inhabitants of Muscat and Sur being captured and killed in the confrontation (folios 178-180). Cox uses this incident to repeat his recommendation that a British Agent be installed at Sur (folios 145b-145d). Arrangements are also made to loan the Sultan of Muscat funds to enable him to buy his own steamer (folios 123-127), which Cox hopes will encourage the Sultan to take responsibility for his coast, and in particular Sur (folios 135-138). A blueprint of the steamer acquired for the Sultan is included in the file (foldout plan, folio 169).Physical description: Foliation: The volume is foliated from the front cover to last page, using a combination of two numbering systems. The first foliation system uses blue or red pencil numbers in the top-right of recto and top-left of verso pages. This foliation system is the original foliation system, and is used in the references index pages (folios 1D-1E). This foliation is used on all pages with text, both recto and verso. The second, more recent foliation system uses circled pencil numbers in the top-right corner of recto pages only, and is intended to fill the gaps left by the earlier foliation system. Foliation anomalies: 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 145A, 145B, 146C, 145D. Foldout item on folio 169.
Abstract: This volume concerns the political situation in the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, following the death of the Sultan of Muscat and Oman [Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd], on 5 October 1913, and the accession of his son, Saiyid Taimur bin Faisal [Taymūr bin Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd]. The main topic of discussion is Saiyid Taimur bin Faisal's request that the British Government officially recognise him as Sultan.The volume's principal correspondents are the following: Major Stuart George Knox, Political Agent and Consul, Muscat; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Zachariah Cox, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; Saiyid Taimur bin Faisal, Sultan of Muscat and Oman.The Arabic language material mainly consists of correspondence received by the Political Agent from Saiyid Taimur bin Faisal. The French language material consists of correspondence between the Political Agent and the French Consul at Muscat.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 41; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: This volume concerns two subsidies paid by the Government of India to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman, which are referred to in the correspondence as the Zanzibar subsidy and the arms traffic subsidy. The latter subsidy is referred to as initially having been granted to Sultan Faisal bin Turki [Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd] as a personal subsidy in 1912, in recognition of his co-operation in the suppression of arms traffic in the Persian Gulf. The Zanzibar subsidy is described as being the right of any Sultan recognised by the British Government, 'subject to their fulfilling certain conditions.'The date range of the volume is 1921-1939; however, there is no material dating from 1924-1931. The correspondence dating from 1921 to 1923 (ff 2-40) notes the continuation of the arms traffic subsidy following the death of Sultan Faisal bin Turki, owing to certain exceptional circumstances, and discusses whether it should be reduced or withdrawn when his successor, Sultan Taimur bin Faisal [Taymūr bin Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd] ceases to rule. The question is raised again in 1932, following the abdication of Sultan Taimur bin Faisal and the accession of his son, Saiyid Said bin Taimur [Sa‘īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd], and this later correspondence discusses the extension of the subsidy and its eventual discontinuation in January 1936. Also discussed are changes to the arrangements for the payment of the Zanzibar subsidy.The volume features the following principal correspondents: the Political Agent and Consul, Muscat; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Government of India's Foreign Secretary; the Viceroy of India; the Sultan of Muscat and Oman; officials of the India Office and the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department.The Arabic language material mostly consists of correspondence exchanged between British representatives and the Sultan of Muscat, of which English translations are also present.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 146; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: The volume contains correspondence and other papers on a range of political subjects, chiefly communicated by the Political Agent at Muscat (Percy Cox until 1904; Major William Grey thereafter) to the Political Residency.The file begins with correspondence related to the Sultan of Muscat's new steamship, but expands to encompass a greater range of matters of a political nature taking place in Oman. These include: debts of and loans to the Sultan of Muscat by the British Government and various individuals (f 44); a report from Cox (October 1903) of Sultan Faisal bin Turki's desire to abdicate (ff 54-56); numerous memorandums of interviews taking place in November 1903 between the Sultan, Political Resident (Charles Kemball), Muscat Agent (Cox) and the Viceroy of India (Lord Curzon) (ff 59-62, 64-67 68-73). During one interview the Sultan is bestowed the honour of Knight Grand Commander of the Indian Empire (G.C.I.E.) (f 65); reports on French activities, including the departure of Roger Laronce and the arrival of Beguin Billecocq as French Consul to Muscat (f 112), French naval vessels in the Gulf (ff 158-59, ff 217, 223); and German (f 176, 181) and Russian (f 173) consulates in Muscat.Numerous papers in the second half of the file relate to the 1907 murder of Sulaiman bin Suwailim, Wali of Dhofar, and a trusted associate of Sultan Faisal bin Turki. A number of reports from Grey inform Cox (who is now Political Resident) of the circumstances surrounding the murder, and negotiations between Sheikh Faisal and Sheikh Isa bin Salih of the Al-Harth tribe to bring the perpetrators (believed to belong to the Siyabiyin tribe) to justice.Physical description: Foliation: The volume has been foliated from the front cover to the last page with circled pencil numbers in the top-right corner of each recto page. There is evidence of an earlier foliation system which uses red or blue pencil numbers in the top-left of versos and top-right of rectos. Foliation anomalies: 165A.