'File 35/134 I A. 40. Sur: Amirs of Jaalan' [‎80v] (179/596)

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their properties which were lying near the State fort where the Wall
resides They have levied a tax on vessels which enter the creek and
have established a Customs House at Aiqa. All these actions are against us
and disturb our State's administration.' JBeni Bu Ah have no right to intertere
in Sur affairs without our permission or from our representative at that place.
As you know Beni Bu Ali are subjects of Muscat as other tribes are and
whenever their assistance is required in any matter they have to execute our
order at Sur or other countries. I now request H. B. M.'s Government to
afford us strong support in order to prevent the Shaikhs of Beni Bu All iiom
any action which thev intend to take at Sar district as they have no historical
right to do so. The pressure which has been brought by Beni Bu All on the
Janabah is due to the fact that they think that we would not get any support
from the Government. You are well aware that our Government had request
ed for help in connection with Sur affairs since a long time and without the
Government assistance they would not be able to prevent them and manage
affairs concerning the Customs administration, etc. If the Janabah tribe
now get the least assistance from us they would never submit to Beni Bu Ah s
demands. ,
The Council of Ministers forwarded to me the letter which they ha^
received from the Shaikh of Beni Bu Ali demanding payment of expenses
which they had spent during their fighting with the Janabah as they considered
that their last action was by order of our Government. If their statement was
true they would not have opposed the Deputies of my Government Ministers
during their last agressions at Sur. Under these circumstances we will never
accept their demand because we did not order them at all, and if they had
been ordered by my Government to rise against the Janabah there would have
been a representative on our behalf with them.
If our friend the Government will not attempt to assist my state in the
affairs of Sur and its dependencies at an early date the result will be unsatisfac
tory. You are aware about the opinions of the Shaikhs of other tribes in
connection with the actions of this (Beni Bu Ali) tribe, and the weak
ness of our Government and lack of support from our friend H. B. M.'s
Government. Therefore I have sanguine hope that the Government will not
procrastinate in this important point to which my Government as well as the
British Government is giving due attention.
The cause of delay in w riting this letter is due to fact that I wished to
discuss the matter with you personally. In reality the Council of Ministers
used to send reports to me since the beginning of the trouble asking for a de
finite answer but I did not send any as I considered that they had been fully
authorised by me to take action in important affairs. They have undoubtedly
explained the whole facts to you. I have now deemed it necessary to acquaint
you with what was necessary so that you may kindly communicate it to our
friend the Government.
In conclusion I hope that sincerity and friendship w 7 ill endure between
both parties.
GIPB—674(C) FiPD—7-11-28 SO.