"الملف 35/134 III (A 54) صور: أمراء جعلان". [و‎‎٧‎٥] (٤٢٦/١٦٥)

during lu;i8 o oosapeUlng each Jtanab;ih dhow-o /ner to pay a tax for
tne use of the Sur creek. Confirmatory evidence of the above
statements la contained in Appendix A.
i) The acquiescence of the Oovernmant of Muscat in the Bani Bu t'
All's hold over Alqa has reacted unfavourably on Sur. Though, next
to Muscat and Matrah, this port is the largest in Oman, its revenues
from customs and zakat are insufficient to pay its own customs
ox ficials and the Wall and his staff. As win be seen from the
figures in Appendix B, the revenues of last year are easily the
lowest on record. To all intents, Sur also is a free port.
4) Control over Sur is vital to Muscat. This was recognized many
yea*® ago by the Prenoh and by successive Sultans,
today by the present Council of Ministers. The existence wihln a
hKndred miles of Muscat of the virtually free port of Sur-Alqa
oonstltues a threat to the financial stability of the State, e.g.
^iae loss oT customs revenue
1« at our. Customs ou^ht to produce over one la^h o &
^d w?tr»! °°^ 0ctlona runted to one quaver l^i
and with weakening control may cease altogether. '
** هذه التواريخ تقريبية *favourabiy^ali*ujj U^Toll ,^ 00 ^ 1 at ^-ts un-
and by encouraging o- ooaitio' ^ vertln S goods to Sur,
dues and consequent laxity in collection?^ ° f oustOIil •
(b) The danger that the proposed increase l„ the customs tariff
majr not P r °duce extra revenue, because of
^ £: veaaeis * «<*>*• ^
the caravan routes fr^'SherklyIh*to“ easur< *» of
diverting the Muscat-Matrah trade »-?t.h U fh at ?- theB ® b ^ r
as was done in 18 ©fi. tr d ith ttie Inferior^
(c) The possible passing of Sur into the hands of the i**. *
remote but not Improbable contingency. The Ba ft l Bu All
aay make effective their partial control over Sur. and this
the Imam and Shaikh Isa bin Salih win . ,
oaxm will not tolerate: see
their various letters
to the Council