Page 307 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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The repeated representations of the Quarantine Medical Officer for the
adequate maintenance of the Quarantine station have hitherto met with no.
response and, whilst the Muscat Government charges all passengers disembark­
ing from steamers at Muscat a quarantine fee of Its. 5 no money is expended
on the station proper nor are any adequate measures taken by the State to meet
possible emergencies.
3. Political Affairs.—The political horizon has continued serene during the
year under report and no event of outstanding importance has occurred. Topics
of lesser import, affecting both the subjects of llis Majesty’s Government and
the Sultanate are dealt with under appropriate heading in Part II of tiie
Report.
The Commercial Treaty between His Majesty’s Government and that of the
Slate lias been renewed as usual this year. i
An Agreement, entitled the li Civil Air Agreement”, for regulating the
conditions of Civil Aviation within Muscat Territories, was concluded in October
between His Majesty’s Government and His Highness the Sultan.
4. Judicial.-- Judicial matters form the subject of a separate report.
5. Trade.—The year under review has unfortunately not justified the
slight indications of optimism prevalent at its outset. Imports have shown a
decline of Its. 4,63,396 in value, a decrease attributable, as last year, more to
the cheap quality of the goods imported than to the quantity. Japanese goods,
which head he list, have been largely responsible for this falling off and are in­
creasingly conspicuous in the dry and piece-goods markets.
I
The following figures, supplied by the Customs Department of the Muscat I
State, show at a glance the value of exports and imports for the year 1932-33
and 1933-34.
Year. Imports. Exports. j
1932-33 34,71,618 20,27,334
1933-34 30,08,222 18,81,310
The principle articles of export continue to be (a) dry and wet dates and
(b) dried fish, whilst imports have been composed of chiefly, rice, sugar, coffee,
piece-goods, wines and liquors, cement and dry goods in general.
The prohibition of importation into Germany other than on the principle of
barter, has caused a large falling off in the export of ” Kasha ” (fish manure).
As this forms one of the principal exports from the Sultanate, such anxiety
is felt by the exporters concerned, who have hitherto been unable to develop )
t)tlier markets.
6. (A) Royal Navy.—Visits of H. M. Ships and Royal Air Force craft to
muscat are detailed in appendix “ A ” to this Report.
Owing to the trannuil conditions prevailing throughout the year neither
service was callod on for active participation n(f affairs connected with tho
Agency, but in Maroh, and again in November, a Sloop was kindly placed at the
disposal of the Political Agent by the Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf for the
object set forth in the succeeding paragraphs.
(B) Royal Air Force.—Every endeavour was made during the vear to find
and establish suitable landing grounds between Masirah Island and Murbat, and
thus to complcto the chain of the aerial route between Aden and Basrah.
For this purpose the Political Agent proceeded during March 1934 to re­
connoitre the South East littoral of the Sultanate. The reconnaissance ■was
carried out in H. M. S. “ BidcFord ” and was joined at Masirah Island by Air
Vice-Marshall C. S. Burnett, O.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., the Air Officer Commanding,
‘Iraq, who proceeded to the rendezvous by flying boat.
Several points, which from previous aerial reconnaissance appeared pro­
mising. were visited. But in (he short time available, which was further cur­
tailed by the outbreak of a contagious disease among the labour personnel nc-
companving the reconnaissance, it was not possible^ to select a ground at the
time. Much valuable information however, was acquired, which led to the rapid
selection and completion of a suitable site in November, when a further recon­
naissance was carried out in H. M. S. “ Lupin