"ملف XXXVIII/٤ قصف صور. أكتوبر - نوفمبر ١٩٢٨". [و‎‎١‎٠‎٦] (٣٦٨/٢٢٢)

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■^roin ...Resident Bus lire.
To Political Muscat.
No *122 dated 5th November ^9280
r our 2195 S. Bur situation is as follows
Is the second ira portant port in Muscat and Sultan
has been able to maintain such shadowy authority as
he retains by playing off factions .Tenebeh and Bani Bu A1
A. factional rearrangements has brought B into local
po^er and they have thought present good occasi on to
establish independance from Muscat at which they have
been aiming for some time past. They are T 7ahabi by
religion and ho’sting of Wahabi flag is presumably
attempt to enlist outside Wahabi support.
Isa bin Saleh,political head Imams Sovernmen .cannot
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view ~ith complacency pasring into Bs hands of Sur
from which he dra^s his supplies. He has called in
Muscat to take .ction or if they do not he '"ill.
The movement is in its initial stages purely political
but significance of it lies in the ability of 3 to
exploit religious fanaticism and give Wahabis opportunity
which mure independant element might T "eIcome.
If bs are attacked by Imams Government as Isa bin
Saleh threatens it seems certain they ^ r ill call Wahabi
from Nejd to support their flag and s *ch request would
appeal to latters religious fanaticism and be difficult
for Ibn Saud to restrain. Consequently Wahabi occupation
of Sur which w ould also entail occupation inte ,ior of
Oman would appear possibility such as to justify
measures of insurance proposed. Addressed India repd
Secy of State 1120
Above -^as sent by me Nov. 4 to G of I Please telegraph
your observations about telegram and any subsequent
developments.Also please keep me informed of situation
w ith special reference as to the necessity for a
regiment.