Page 452 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

101.

conveyed by the Indian Government to the Sultan of Maskat might bo
expected to prevent clVcctually any interference of the kind apprehended
by us.
The Government of India, however, thought there would not bo not much
gain bv acquiring a lease of the Customs
Secut E., April 1003. No.. 128-129.
at Gwadur at present. AVo might operate
on these in an indirect way by trying to open a port of our own and attracting
the trade to that port, which would of course reduce tho income at Gwadur
and make the Sultan disposed to part with it, if we wanted it.*
The Secretary of Stato was told “ that the Government of India do not at
present propose to move in the matter of leasing the Gwadur Customs ” (Des­
patch No. 2G, dated 2Gih February 903).
289. In July 1903 Major Cox reported that there was much chaos in the
SecretJuly l0r*l, Nm. 147*152. Poihie.l Customs Administration of Gwadur on
Resident's No. 134. dated 16th July 1903, and account of friction between the customs
cncle , ibid, No. 117. official whom the Sultan had substituted
recontly in place of a customs farmer, and tho local merchants. Their diffi­
culties were then temporarily settled by a compromise cITccted by a Punch of
two British merchants and one Arab merchant of Maskat with tho representa­
tives of the Gwadur merchants, whom the Director of the Persian Gulf
Telegraphs deputed at the request of the Sultan. In accordance with this
settlement new rules wero issued for the levy of customs at Gwadur.
290. In September 1903, the Khan of Khclat came forward to claim the
rendition of Gwadur to himself (vide his
Secret E., July 1901, No«. 147-162.
letter to his Political Adviser, dated 5th
September 1903). It was submitted to Government by tho Agent to tho
Governor-General in Baluchistan with a memorandum and notes already
referred to above (letter No. 31, dated 20th January 1901).
No action was taken at the time on the question. Lord Curzon wished fo
wait and see whether anything came out of the negotiations with France about
M askat and the French treaty.

(VI) Reported intention of the Russian Government to place an Agent in Charge of the
Customs at Gwadur, 190.).
291. In his lettor No. 44, dated 30th January 1905, Major Grey reported
that Seyyid Mahomed bin Said, son of
Secret E., May 1905, No.. 409- 415.
the Sultan’s late Wazir, brought for his
perusal a letter received from a Persian known as Sadid-us-Sultanch, the
Russiau Agent at. Lingali, stating that the Russian Government intended to
place an agent of their own in charge of the Customs at Gwadur and asked for
information regarding the following points: —
(a) The name of the present farmer and tho price paid by him to the
Sultan.
(b) The total yearly receipts.
(c) Differential treatment (if any).
(d) Other particulars.
292. Under instructions from Major Grey, in order to avoid raising
suspicion in the mind of the Russian Agent, Seyyid Mahomed replied giving
the necessary information and further development was awaited.
293. In his letter No. 102, dated 21st February 1905, Major Grey reported
that a reply was received from the Russian Agent expressing thanks for tho
information supplied, and stating that the representatives of the Russian
Government would move in the matter of tho Gwadur Customs when they had
completed their history of Maskat. Major Grey could form no idea of what
was referred to.
• In Jloyl002, Colonel Ynto, Aj^nt to the Governor-General in Enlnchifctan, proposed that provision
Sccrot E.. March 19o3, Nos. 231-2C0. (N«. 218.) sin uld be made for a crinbud post and t< -h'griiph "dice
nt l’usni either by discontinuin',; the m.il seivice with
Gwadur or hy roahing Maskat a forln'glitly ingtead of a weekly port of Cn«l. Neither of the alternatives waa
ExUtn.1 B-. March 1301, Not. 316*318.
as will ag Gwadar have bceu included with the porta of call fur the subsidiary mail sorvicu.