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to negotiate regardmg the matter with His Majesty’s Government, but did not at
all like the idea ol handing the place over direct either to India or Pakistan. In
reporting this the Political Resident suggested that before the Sultan was
encouraged to dispose of Gwadur, its importance to His Majesty’s Government
from the points of view of strategy and air communications should be
considered.(,v) This was done and the conclusion reached was that as the Royal
Air Force and immediate civil air interests were limited to obtaining a
continuation of the facilities granted to His Majesty’s Government under the civil
air agreement of 1947 and to the long-term and rather doubtful possibility that
Gwadur might become an important oil port, His Majesty’s Government should
not insist on their rights under the agreement of 1891 to the prejudice of any
approach which the Government of Pakistan might make to the Sultan for the
sale or return of Gwadur.!60)
47. Early in 1949 the Pakistan Government raised the question of the cession
to them of Gwadur, and after asserting “ an irresistible claim ” on legal grounds
offered to pay a price for it equal to the gross customs revenue for the ten years
preceding the war.!67) It was only to be expected that they would try to obtain
the possession of the place. Quite apart from their obvious objections to the
existence of a Muscat enclave in their territory and the possible commercial and
strategic value of the place as a port, they were suffering substantial loss of revenue
from its use as a centre for smuggling. There is also evidence to show that they
had quite ungrounded fears that the Sultan might cede it to India. The Sultan
was asked whether he would agree to sell Gwadur, and told that His Majesty’s
Government viewed the proposal favourably, but he replied that he did not feel
able to take such an irrevocable decision which would alienate ancestral property
and might antagonise public opinion.!68) When the Sultan visited Pakistan at the
end of 1949 some unofficial approaches were made to him on the subject of Gwadur
and on his return he informed the Political Resident that he was unwilling either
to sell or lease the place.!59) In 1950 reports were received of agitation in Mekran
for the return of Gwadur fostered by the Nawab and of tribal gatherings to attack
the place. There was some propaganda on the Pakistan radio and an attempt
was made to blockade the enclave by land. The Pakistan Government gave an
assurance that they were strongly opposed to any activities aimed at the forcible
occupation of Gwadur and undertook to restrain the Nawab.!60) The Political
Resident was instructed to pass this information to the Sultan and at the same
time to warn him that His Majesty’s Government could not accept responsibility
for the protection of Gwadur.!81) The Pakistan Foreign Minister raised the
question of Gwadur when he was on a visit to London in July 1950 and stressed
the anxiety of his Government to obtain possession of the whole enclave either by
sale or lease. He indicated that Pakistan would make a generous offer.!82) In 1951
the Pakistan Government wished to send a delegation to Muscat to convey their
offer to the Sultan, but he obstinately refused to receive it on the ground that
Pakistan was a Dominion and that he had always dealt with British Dominions
through His Majesty’s Government.!83) He stated that he would make an offer
regarding Gwadur if the matter were dealt with by His Majesty’s Government.! )
He subsequently enquired in writing whether the agreement of 1891 regarding the
cession of the territory!0'5) was still valid and received a reply in the affirmative.! )
He orally called the Political Agent’s attention to the fact that this agreement
prohibited him absolutely from ceding territory to anybody other than the British
Government, and that no provision was made for cession with the permission of
that Government. The Pakistan Government were informed of the Sultan’s refusal
to receive a delegation and told that His Majesty’s Government were willing to
transmit their offer regarding Gwadur if they so desired.(CT) They replied that they
(“) P.R. to F.O. Despatch 6 of April 14. 1948 (E 4981/73/91 of 1948).
(*•) F.O. to P.R. E 9054/73/91 of August 26. 1948.
CRO to F.O. 47 (S/64) of February 14. 1949 fE 2217/1053/91 of 1949).
/»•) Tel. from P.R. to F.O. 301 of June 19. 1949 (E 7634/1053/91 of 1949).
(s*) P R to F.O. 269/3/50 G of February 7, 1950 fEA 1083/3 of 1950).
(*°) C.R.O. to F.O. Tel. 678 of May 24. 1950 (EA 1083/18 of 1950).
f*1) Tel. from F.O. to P.R. 264 of June 12. 1950 (EA 1083/19 of 1950).
(**) FO to P.R. EA 1083/37 of October 12, 1950.
(“) Muscat to P.R. Despatch 21 of September 30, 1951 (EA 1086/18 of 1951).
(««) Tel. from Muscat to F.O. 107 of October 14, 1951 (EA 1086/19 of 1951).
W PR ^toi?XX 1087/24 of October 23, 1951 (EA 1086/20 of 1951).
(,T) C.R.O. to F.O. Tel. 1410 of October 31, 1951 (EA 1086/21 of 1951).