"ملف XXXVIII/٥ المجلد I صور: نوفمبر ١٩٢٨ - فبراير ١٩٣١" [و‎‎٢‎٨‎١] (٦٨٨/٥٦٨)

2
but that this should be done very cautiously, (para VI of his
letter). The Political Resident is also of opinion that
caution is necessary, and so am I. It is H easy to get one
rupee’s worth of crops out of the ground by putting two rupees
into it", and to increase the Sur revenues to the extent of
for this reason
entailing - jpixJtJiXBxgrauuui alone - our active intervention,
would hardly be worth while. The object is of course to strike
the happy mean.
4. The chief leakage with regard to imports is by the use
of dishonest manifests. (Para V of Jfr. Thomas's letter). It
is the business of the Sur Customs officials to check these
documents, but here they me^t with opposition, and the State
as yet has not sufficient prestige to give them the necessary
backing.
5 . ^ith reference to the matter of the Sur Customs
personnel. It will be seen from para VII of Mr. Thomas's letter
that measures have already been taken to check the maladminis
tration of the Sur Customs Director^by sending there an
'appraiser' under orders which virtually place him over the
Director. Mr. Thomas likewise informs me that Saiyid Said is
visiting Sur very shortly to make enquiries on the spot. The
Director General of Customs, Iskander Effendi, is also return
ing from leave almost immediately, and his views should be of
value with regard to a new Director. Under these circumstances
I venture to suggest that the question of^new Director De left
over for the moment until I return to Muscat-at the end of next
month, when I win take an early opjortunity of visiting Sur,
and that the representations which the Political Resident wieheS
me to make to the State (on the subject of the Customs adminis
tration at Sur) be likewise postponed until then.
I have the honour to be
Sir,
Your most obedient servant
Major,
Political Agent and H.B.M's Consul, Muscat