Taxation of British Subjects in Muscat, and their Employees, by the Muscat Government [‎614v] (4/10)

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3. I would beg to solicit that the instructions of Government may be
obtained on these points for my future guidance.
4. I would also solicit that the consideration of Government be obtained
to the question of the claim of the British subjects m Muscat to exemption
from taxation.
Isi.—There is no Treaty granting them exemption.
2nd.—Exemption has been allowed for many years, but attempts have fre,
quently been made to tax individuals though unsuccessfully through the resisJL
ance of Her Britannic Majesty’s representative.
5 The only °round for the claims is “ allowing exemption,” and I submit
it to be a question whether that establishes any legal right to exemption.
6 I beo- particularly to solicit the instructions of Government as to this
claim to exemption, for the present Government having now no other sources of
revenue than Muscat to meet the heavy war expenses, must put on taxes how
and wherever they can, and I feel the question may be raised at any moment.
No. 478-134, dated Bushire, 22nd October 1870.
From— Lieut.-Col. Lewis Belly, C.S.I., H. B. M/s Poltl. Resident, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , Political Dept.
Referring to concluding paragraph of my letter No. 426-120,'of 8th
No. 493 , dated sth October isfo, with October 1870, I have the honor to forward a copy
accompaniment. of a letter as per margin, which 1 have received
from the Acting 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. , Muscat, regarding taxation of employes of
British subjects by the Muscat Government.
2. In my opinion these cases also should he ruled by Treaty. In the
absence of Treaty stipulation the subjects of Muscat or other places not British
would be subject to taxation, and the mere circumstance of their tak-
Sw m ong ' mg service under a British subject would not exempt them* taxation.
No. 493, dated Sth October 1870.
From —Major A. Cotton Way, Her Britannic Majesty's 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. and
Consul, Muscat,
To— Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis Pelly, C.S.I., Her Britannic Majesty's Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Referring to my letter No. 470, of the 24th September last, I have the
honor to forward copy of a letter from Ali Suchoo, a British subject residing in
Muttrah, complaining that his servants, Beloochees of Gwadur and Charbar and
Arabs of Muscat, have been taxed by the Muscat Government.
2. These cases differ from the case of the servant of the British-Indian
Steam Navigation Company put forward in my letter above noted, inasmuch as
the employer actually resides in Muttrah, and the decisions will rest on the
decision the Hon ble the Governor in Council may pass as to right of British
subjects to exemption from taxation, and, if the right be held to be established,
whether it extends to Arab and other employes.
Dated Muttrah, ^ received 7th October 1870.
From Ali bin Salmem Suchoo Khoja, a British subject,
To M aj ORA. C AYj 11 er Britannic Majesty's Acting 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. and
* Arabs. MA the pas^ 20^yea 0U serva nts* have been in my employ for