'File 59/15 C (A 15) Muscat Miscellaneous'

Content

The volume contains correspondence and other papers on a range of political subjects, chiefly communicated by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Muscat (Percy Cox until 1904; Major William Grey thereafter) to the Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. .

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 A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. (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 A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. ) 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.

Extent and format

1 file (250 folios)

Arrangement

An index to the file is included on the inside front cover of the volume, ff 2-3. The index is arranged by subject, with page numbers referring to the volume's foliation. These page numbers become increasingly inaccurate and unreliable in relation to those subjects in the second half of volume (from f 150). Most of the subjects referred to in the index have their own cover page in the file. The items within each subject are arranged in chronological order. The arrangement of the subjects themselves are in chronological order (earliest to latest), based on the date of the first item of correspondence contained therein.

Physical characteristics

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 The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. 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.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/1/553

Former external reference(s)

A Series: 59/15 C Confidential Series: A15

History of this record

Date(s)

15 Jun 1903-27 May 1909 (CE, Gregorian)

Related material

Related primary sources

Numerous pieces of correspondence refer to events recorded in the Muscat Diary, which forms part of the Sub-SubSeries 'Muscat Political 1906-51' (IOR/R/15/6/334-401)

Places

MuscatBūshehr

People & organisations

Sir Percy Zachariah Cox, KnightFayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa'īd, Sultan of Muscat and OmanJames OrtonFrancis WardenHugh Weightman

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'File 59/15 C (A 15) Muscat Miscellaneous', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/553, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x00020e> [accessed 22 December 2024]

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