Page 794 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

CO ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE

There was no doubt of liis intention to evade the orders of Government. It
was clearly impolitic to leave a British officer continuously in sole chargo of an
independent State. However, suitab.'o such a stop might have proved for a
short time, the continuance of the position could but arouse the most gloomy
suspicions in the minds of our enemies, and this at a tirno when the whole Arab
world was in a ferment. In interior Oman crisis succeeded crisis, while in
Muscat itself the wildest rumours were prevalent owing to the continuous ab­
sence of the Sultan, that ho had been imprisoned by us and that wo were about
to take over the couutry.
The Sultan’s return, if only for a short time, and the establishment of an
Arab form of Government were called for. For this purpose the Political
Agent was called to India in August to interview the Sultan.
The latter was run to earth in Ambala on the 8th September, and after a
lengthy interview he gave instructions for the appointment of Council of
Ministers, and agreed to return to Muscat, though ho prayed that he should
only return for a period of two months each year, three months were however
insisted on.
Even then it was not till the end of November that the Sultan returned to
Muscat on R. I. M. S. Lawrence.
His return certainly removed many justifiable apprehensions and created a
favourable atmosphere, while his non-intorference with his ministers faciliat-
ed administration. But it must never be forgotten that abdication is his aim,
and that he hopes to be allowed to do this when his son is fit to take his place.
An unwilling Sultan he will remain at the request of Government, but as a
factor in actual politics or administration he no longer exists.
The hope of the State lies in his son Saiyid Said, now only ten. It is hoped
that he will shortly join the Chiefs’ College atAjmere.

(4) General review.
The outstanding events of the year have been the peace with Oman, the
rehabilitation of the State finances, and the replacement of rule by the Sultan
by rule by a Council of Ministers. These events have been almost revolu­
tionary, but they have nevertheless boon the inevitable outcome of circum­
stances. The State has made a good start, and in 1921 it will endeavour to
stand by itself without our military support. But promising as the future
may seem, the foundations will have been built upon sand if adequate person­
nel is not forthcoming. The younger generation in Muscat does not seem to
exist. Of the ministers two are over sixty and three are childless. Incompetent
as the Walis of the coast are, wero one to resign or to die there would be none to
replace him. The actual technical officials of the administration will for
several years to come have to be imported from outside, and the most extrava­
gantly generous terms will not tempt the average qualified man to brave
by no means exaggerated terrors of Musoat. The problem is desperate, but
we must wait and see.
Interior Oman may be left to itself. The sole disquieting featuro is the
state of semi-famine caused by the lack of rain. To this may be added the fall
in the purchasing power of the dollar due to the decline of silver. With the
appreciated dollar the Omanis had not felt seriously the rise in the price of
commodities.
Neither in Oman nor in the Sultan’s territories is there any immediate
cause for apprehension, and South Eastern Arabia is possibly no worse off than
many other countries.
There has been no arms traffic. No
Aim* Traffic.
purchases were made from the Arms
Warehouse.
333 British subjects were registered during the year of whom 121 were
from Gwadur. Total amount of fees
Britiib mbjrcti and British iutoroati.
collected including fines was Its. 436.