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ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE POLITICAL AGENCY MUSCAT
FOR THE YEAR 1938.

Part II.
1. Ruling Family.—(a) His Highness Saiyicl Said bin Taimur.—During
1938 His Highness carried out a world tour which he had commenced with
his official visit to India at the end of 1937. Leaving India in November
1937 the Sultan travelled via Singapore to Japan where he visited his father
Saiyid Timur, the late Sultan, who has settled permanently at Kobe. The
Sultan’s visit to Japan was private and apparently no discussions took place
between him and any Japanese officials. After a stay of just over a month
in that country the Sultan left in the end of January for the United States
disembarking at San Francisco- on 15th February. After visiting various
places of interest including Hollywood—a most important place in the eyes
of the Sultan who is a keen critic of the cinema—His Highness arrived in
Washington on 10th March where he was the guest of the United States
Government for some days and had an interview with President Roosevelt.
On 28th M trch His Highness arrived in England where lie was a guest of His
Majesty’s Government for the first fortnight of his stay. The Sultan was
granted an audience with His Majesty the I^ing who conferred on him tho
title of K.C.I.E.
There seems no doubt that the Sultan thoroughly enjoyed and was
appreciative of the varied and comprehensive programme of entertainment
arranged for him by the Government Hospitality Board and his visit
to England can be described as a distinct success. Since his return
to Muscat the Sultan has several times stated how much he enjoyed himself
in that country and how sorry he was that his visit could not have been
considerably longer.
After a short visit of some two weeks to France in April, where he was
received by the President of the French Republic, His Highness returned
to England on 19th April and left on 1st May via Italy and India for Muscat,
which ho eventually reached on 13th July 1938.
(b) Saiyid Nadir, the senior member of the ruling family, as in the past,
did not take any part in State affairs and due to his poor state of health
lived practically a retired life. At the end of the year he was obliged to go
to India for medical treatment and after two months stay in Bombay he
returned to Muscat at the close of the year.
(c) Saiyid Shahab, who is a real unole of the Sultan, acted on various
occasions during the year as the latter’s representative during the Sultan’s
absence from the State.
(d) Saiyid Hamad, remained Wali of Matrah throughout thp year.
(e) Saiyid Mahmud, who had been unemployed since his dismissal from
the post of Wali of Matrah in February last year secretly left for Zanzibar
in a sailing boat in the first week of February. He was accompanied by his
two brothers Khalid and Said. After being ship-wrecked off Ras-al-Had,
tho party arranged to make their way to Socotra, where it is believed they
are still living. The Sultan received an insolent letter from Saiyid Mahmud
written from Socotra in which ho declares the reason for he and his brothers
leaving the State was the unfair treatment received from the Sultan. This
statement has no foundation of truth and the State will not be the loser by
the departure of these three individuals.
(/) Saiyid Tariq, half brother of the Sultan who arrived at Muscat at
the close of last year, accompanied His Highness on his tour as far as Japan
in order to visit his father, Saiyid Taimur, the former Sultan whom he had
not seen since he was a child.
2. Financial Adviser.—The post of Financial Adviser remained vacant
throughout the year.
3. Trade and Commerce.—This subject has already been dealt with in
Part I of this report.