'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the year 1932' [‎552v] (8/72)

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Muscat. —Stringent measures of retrenchment and economy resulted in a
considerable improvement in the State’s finances and the year ended with a
surplus.
The prestige of the State was raised by the submission in March under
threat of force of the recalcitrant Bani Bu Ali tribe. Three Sloops of the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Division, three Royal Air Force Flying Boats, a detachment of the
Muscat Levies, and the Muscat State gunboat, were concentrated near Sur. Ali
bin Abdulla, the Chief of the tribe, was informed that if he would not permit the
establishment of a Customs post at Sur, as a sign of the State’s suzerainty, his
fort at Aiqa, a suburb of Sur, would be bombarded by His Majesty’s Sloops,
and his fort at Ja’alan 50 miles away in the interior, would be bombed by
aircraft. After flights by Royal Air Force Flying Boats had taken place over
Ja’alan and warning pamphlets had been dropped, Ali bin Abdulla submitted.
A satisfactory result was thus brought about without a shot being fired. The
importance of the incident lay in the fact that other recalcitrant Chiefs elsewhere
in Muscat territory were watching events at Sur, and—if Ali bin Abdulla had
not been taken to task—might in their turn have endeavoured to separate
themselves from the Muscat Government, when the wholesale disintegration of
the State might well have commenced.
Trade (both sides of the Gulf).—The trade on the Arab side is dealt with
fully in the Trade Reports from the Agencies for the year in question.
Trade on the Persian side as far as Bushire is concenied is dealt with in
Section 8 of Chapter I of this Report. As far as South Persia generally is
concerned, the Trade Reports for the year from the various Consular posts
furnish detailed information.
The general economic depression due to extraneous causes was accentuated
by the Government restrictions on trade, monopolies and control of exchange
and the tamine conditions which prevailed in the South owing to the general
failure of the rains during the winter of 1931-32.
Persian side of the Gulf.—On the Persian side of the Gulf, the Persian
Government continued with some success its work of disarming the tribes
separating them from their hereditary leaders, and increasing its control over
them.
Security in the South was good in the early months of the year but the
prevalence ot famine conditions led to an increase later in brigandage.*
Persian Navy.—The arrival of the Persian Navy in October and the anti-
smugghng activities it engaged in did not lead to any incidents during the vear
as these activities were confined to the Persian coast. ’
Relations with local Persian Authorities.—Rehiiiona with the Governor of
Bushire and Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Ports-Mirza Ali Ashlar Khan Taliqani-contimied
V C01fllal throughout the year, and considerable assistance—official and
denn-omcial was received from him in the solution of various local problems.
T. C. FOWLE, Lieut.-Colonel,
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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,