"تقارير إدارية ١٩٢٠-١٩٢٤" [و‎‎١‎٢‎٦] (٤١٢/٢٥٦)

PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL EESIDBNCY, 1923. 3
In 1921 tli(3 Anglo -Persian Oil Company had asked for permission to
Oil Concessions. negotiate with Bin Sa'ud and the Arab
^ in n . . , principalities on the shore of the Persian
rnv co ? cessi ? n ^ search for and exploit oil, if found, in their territories.
his ma er hnng fire for a long time but during the year permission was given
for negotiations to^commence. In the autumn of 1922, however, a certain Major
Holmes ac mg on behalf of the Eastern Syndicate appeared on the scene and
nhfn 0 - H ining P e rmission of His Majesty's Government, went to Eiyadh
and obtained a general concession for minerals and oil from Bin Sa'ud. The
result of this was that by the time the Anglo-Persian Oil Company started to
negotiate with the Shaikh of Kuwait and Bahrain, those potentates, taking their
cue from Bin ba ud, declined to have anything to do with the Company. So
far, although these Shaikhs have not been able to show any valid reason for
objecting to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's draft concession they will not
look at it, and are most anxious to do a deal with the Eastern Syndicate. It
appears that Bin Sa ud and the Shaikhs following his lead are afraid of the
Anglo-I ersian Oil Company as being a Government concern which is likely to
encroach on their sovereign rights.
As regards Muscat : the Sultan gave an undertaking to the Resident not to
give a concession to anybody not approved by the British Government but
owing to his absence at Dhofar from March till the end of the year it was not
possible to open any negotiations with him. There are signs however that the
Sultan will not follow the lead of Bm. Sa'ud and the two Shaikhs but will be
ready to give a concession to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.
The only other matters of interest at Muscat are the finances and the Levy
Muscat. ' Corps. The former are unfortunately in
proposals had to be made for retrenchment 7 ^ year
The Levy Corps on the other hand done very well under Captain McCarthy
11 0 \ eT 111 a ve ^ efficient co ^ion to hS successor
when he left for India to pass his examination in March. Captain Alban who
succeeded him, has maintained the efficiency of the Corps and the Political
Resident, who inspected rfc m Deceiver, found it in a very satisfactory condition
Unfortunately the condition of the State finances compelled the Commandant hi*
200 tSout the reduction of the force from
iOU to about 200 men. It is hoped that it will be possible to carry out the multi
fanous duties of the Corps with 200 men, but it will be hard work.
A fairly considerable trade in Baluehis and Mekranis is carried on between
Slave Trade., Mekran and the Batinah and Trncial
~ ix. w ^ ^ Coasts of Oman. It is difficult to c?rmr>rp«a
as the relatives of the persons sold into slavery do not desire to stop it and fn
many cases the (?) victims themsplvo 1 "? rln nnf r^rioz-wci i i •'
on the same persofes have been found in slayery flgainr -apparently '
/ l ? ir r e lat i ve s. The Assistant Superintendents of Jask Sub-division and
fk have both seen cases of women released from slavery on the Trucial Co^t
too har a d nly retUrilmg t0 tIleir Arab masters ' havin ° found home li^rkek^
any ^ ^ t0 redaCe the traffip and it is not now of
As I am retiring on pension in the middle of April and this is the last report
Staff. shall submit, I desire to express my
I have received while Dephty Resident ami PoHaMl f BUdtJlrom\?0^ n ^
m charge of the Agencies and Consulates, from mv staff at Busliirp an,! f
clerical establishments and to place on record mv aprireciS o? t f
wrk done by then, often in^ery diflicult
trying climatic conditions. Anv measure of success which 1 ttihv v • ,
s s wsr y is m ^ ^ to ^
In conclusion, to sum up the political situation during the year under
• Resume. review : the experiment being made in
. 1 ersia seems to be siiocppdino* - fi wi
country is quieter and the roads safer than they have been for yearT! the Central