'Muscat Rising, from April 1917 to January 1918 & resumed from April 1920 to Oct 1920' [‎96r] (202/558)

49. At the present minute he pays to his Customs Superintendent a
sum in the neighbourhood of Rs. 1,000 per mensem, a sum for which or less
than which he could obtain the services of an European Superintendent. I
am informed that the chief employes of his Customs make a sum of Rs, 400
to 500 per month in addition to their pay.
50. The Sultan's chief difficulty is however his want of knowledge of
government and his lack of any official who can be responsible to him. He
requires a Prime Minister but in the length and breadth of the districts under
him there is no one capable of filling the post. The natural sus^estion is
that he should employ a Biwan from India as in a Native State, but
it is more than doubtful whether such a man, having regard to the con
tempt in which Indians are held by Arabs and the subordinate position held
by them in Maskat, could deal with the situation and whether he would be
able to cope with the corruption in the place, the enemity of the court circle
and the Sultan's brothers and the intrigue which would inevitably arise
against him. Nor would he be strong enough to check the Sultan's expendi
ture. While an Egyptian would be preferable to an Indian I do not think
that any Eastern could cope with the situation and there seems to be no point
in risking success by employing one since his failure would increase the
difficulties of the situation.
51. I am accordingly of the opinion that it would be best to persuade the
Sultan, if posssible, to accept a British officer as Adviser as a commencement
and until the State had achieved some working condition of finance and justice
and continuity of action when an Indian or preferably an Egyptian could take
up the work. While 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. could do a great deal in this way
his interference is necessarily limited ; too great intervention by him would
lay us open to the protest of the French Government and would certainly lay
us open to the charge of curtailing the independence of Oman, a charge
which could not be brought if the Sultan employed his own adviser.
One head is essential while undertaking reforms, a fact which the war
has sufficiently taught us; the employment of a Customs officer or Diwan
depending upon the assistance of 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. , when difficulties arose
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. having to undertake the persuasion of the Sultan, while
the troops were an independent command is a system which might succeed but
would do so in spite of its failings not on account of the soundness of its
organisation. A dual control is the favourite fault of the English and the
cause of most of our failures.
52. My ambition would be the evolution of a Mobammedan slate run
on Eastern lines but with British trained officers to see that organisation and
•justice were maintained. Whether it is possible for a kingdom in the condi
tion of Maskat ultimately to conduct its own Government unaided remains
to be seen, but it would appear that the only present hope for it is for the
Sultan to employ foreign servants, our object from the commencement being
to reduce their number as early as possible and as local men can be trained.
53. The Sultan is afraid of coming too much under British influence,
a view which I have explained is inherited rather than personal, but his
present situation renders him so entirely dependent upon us that sue
an attitude is untenable. While he can hope to become independent with
our help he cannot even hope to exist without it.
54 Education.—1 have said that the Saltan has no one upon whom he
can depend in the way of officials. This state of affairs is bound to con mue
as long as there is no education at Maskat. There are a number of youths of
16 to 18 having little or no education and belonging to the family ot the
Sultan or other important persons who might if taken in hand immedia y
obtain sufficient education to be of use in civil and military capacities in
few years until winch time there appears to be no alternative to the use of
foreigners. . .
55. I had already taken up the question of education withrefereace^ to
British subjects permanently resident in Maskat, who it educa e m ^ "
be so employed but, though I bad succeeded in getting guarantee of sufficient