"ثورة مسقط، في الفترة من أبريل ١٩١٧ إلى يناير ١٩١٨، واستُأنفت في الفترة من أبريل ١٩٢٠ إلى أكتوبر ١٩٢٠" [و‎‎٩‎٧] (٥٥٨/٢٠٤)

1
money for the purpose, an adrertisement in the Indian papers for a Head
master to open such a school produced not a single answer although a sum
of Rs. 140 per mensem with free quarters was offered as salary.
66. If the Education Department could supply me with two or three
Muhammadans at salaries aggregating Rs. 300 per mensem it would go far
towards supplying the officials who will be needed in the future and the lack
of whom is one of our present difficulties.
*•»***»
57. Before leaving Maskat Colonel Trevor suggested that I should, when
in Simla, bring forward the idea o£ purchasing or leasing from the Sultan
the district of Gwadur on the Persian coast. In a subsequent letter he again
requested me to bring up the point.
68. The money so obtained would undoubtedly be of the greatest assist
ance both in replenishing the State finances and the Sultan's private purse,
but I would suggest delay in making such a proposition to him, if approved
of, for two reasons.
59. In the first place the Sultan's present indebtedness is a great lever
to induce him to undertake reforms without which I see no hope of him
maintaining his position, and in the second place, until those reforms are
instituted, I fear there is no reason to expect that the money would be
properly employed and that it would not be squandered by the Sultan's
brothers and favourites. Though His Highness has undoubtedly shown
reat improvement both in the work he has done and in his control of his
nances every man in this world is more or less under the influence of his
surroundings.
60. The above sketch and proposals must necessarily be somewhat
wanting in detail since they are in the main a suggestion for action and
policy. In many cases they can only be worked out in detail as circum
stances arise. I have personal confidence that they can or modifications of
them can be carried out and they provide a solution of the difficulties of
the present situation in Oman, a solution which will not involve Govern
ment in any great expense or in extensive military measures.
61. The situation is such that, notwithstanding our preoccupation in the
war, some action is forced Upon us. The longer present circumstances endure
the more difficult will the situation become. While the Sultan and more
especially his father and grandfather are responsible in the main for his present
difficulties it is the action which we took in suppressing the arms traffic
for our own benefit which combined the Sultan's enemies against him.
"We are thus to a certain extent responsible to him but by assisting him
in a way which insists on his assisting himself the object we desire will be
attained and I think that if these proposals are accepted I shall not have
to trouble the Government much further in putting matters right.
62. A copy of this letter has been sent to Sir P. Cox and to Colonel
Trevor.
P. S. —Since writing the above I have received a letter from my dragoman
saying that it is understood that the Customs Superintendent has had heavy
business losses and is unable further to finance the Sultan and tha,t it is
rumoured that the Sultan intends to ask us to take over the management of his
Customs.
Hough estimate of cost of a Force for His Highness the Sultan of Maskat,
This force will only be required at the strength given below for a period
of approximately one year, after which time it will be reduced.
I have endeavoured to keep the expenditure as near as possible to 2^
lakhs the total now expended by His Highness in payments to guards but for
a short period it will be necessary to exceed this amount.