"ملف ٨/ ٦٥ VIII تجديد المعاهدة التجارية" [و‎‎٩] (٢٤٨/١٧)

the possibility of the Sultan entering into an agreement
with a third country under which cargo is to he carried between
the third country and Muscat only in vessels of the former
or in vessels of the former and in Omani vessels in specified
proportions. Although it might be possible to claim that an
arrangement of this kind was contrary to the present paragraph
(3) of Article 3, it is considered preferable to provide specif
ically against such discrimination which is harmful not only to
British shipping but to world shipping as a whole, and in the
long run can only increase the cost and reduce the availability
of shipping services to world trade. If the Sultan is
prepared to accept this new paragraph only on a basis of
reciprocity, I would be prepared to grant this in respect of
the new Article h*
9. In paragraph (4) (b) of Article 6 the period during
which goods may remain in transit pending trans-shipment has
been extended to six months since I am advised that the period
of three mouths at present provided for is not sufficient to
meet normal requirements This ahas necessitated a consequential
amendment to the period given in paragraph ( 6 ) of this .article.
This Article, in which a number of verbal changes have been
made without affecting the substance, may have to be further
amended in the light of re-consideration here.
10. I have omitted the present paragraph (3) from Article 7
of the new draft. Otherwise this Article remains the same
except that I wish to provide that the classification as well
as the value of the goods shall be subject to determination
by the impartial experts who may be appointed under the present
paragraph (4). I hope that the Sultan will be willing to
accept this shortened version of the article, but if he is not
prepared to do so it should be possible to draft an additional
paragraph providing for analogous treatment for his nationals