Page 39 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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86. Tho Oommitteo considered 224 claims of British or British protected
subjects amounting to $-06,04.0 or Rs.
Sccrot E., May 1P90, Nob. 36-40.
66,915), and found many fraudulent and
exaggerated. Tho final award was for $77,895 at Rs. 183=$100 (Resident's
No. 14, dated 25th January 1896).
Tho Sulian however obstinately clung to view that tho British subjects
should have no precedence over Maskat subjects, and spoke of sum collected as
“ common to four Governments ** (Political Agent’s No. 10, dated 9th January
1896). The Sultan was ordored to bo told $77,894 must bo paid quarterly by
instalments within 3 years, minus rateable deduction for 1 American and 1
French claim, otherwise steps would be taken to recover it from the Zanzibar
subsidy (Foreign Department, No. 641-12., dated 27th March 1896).
87. Owing to collusion of the Ghafiris, the abuse of exemption of the
Hijriyin, absence of effective control at Sur and Sultan's own partiality in
collection at Maskat, collections from indemnity tax were only $9,054 from
imposition of tax 1st August 1896 to 14th March 1896, including $650 from
Sur. The Sultan was believed to have spent proceeds as received. The Sultan
would impose extra 6 per cent, on the
8eerot E., Apguat 1696. No*. 63-03.
Ghafiris also for connivance and on
account of looting done by friendlies making Ghafiri taxes 10 per cent, and
Hinawi 15 per cent, altogether (Political Agent’s letter No. 78, dated 1st April
1896). The Government thought it unnecessary to interfere with the Sultan’s
discretion in taxing Ghafiris.
88. The Government of India directed that the money collected was to be
demanded from the Sultan and be to be informed in unmistakeable terms that,
failing payment of sum already collected, and the quarterly payment in future
of the receipts from the special taxation, the amounts due would, without
further notice, be recovered from the Zanzibar subsidy : also that if at tho end
of 3 years the claims remained unliquidated, the balance would be recovered
from subsidy in such manner as Government of India might decide (Foreign
Department letter, dated 22nd June 189G). $11,526 were received from the
Sultan.
89. The Ghafiris resonting being subjected to the punitive tax joined
hands with the Hinawis in attempting an insurrection under the leadership of
Saleh bin Ali, which would have developed serious proportions, but it was
nipped in the bud by the death of the leader (see paragraph it7). The Sultan
withdrew the tax on the Ghafiris.
90. The Secretary of State informed the Government of India that as
tho French were actively interesting
Secret E., February 1897, Not. 69-86.
themselves in Maskat affairs, the effect
of levying unpopular tax on friendly subjects, as well as rebels (injurious
to trade aud with object of payiu" indemnity assessed on doubtful evidence)
deserved careful consideration of the Government of India. The extreme
measure of deductions from the subsidy should therefore he avoided if possible
(despatch dated 11th September 1896).
91. Tho Resident was directed to toll the Sultan that Government trusted
it would be unnecessary to resort to such extreme measure as deduction from
subsidy. Orders as to indemnity were postponed till the present position was
reported (telegram dated 4th January
Secret E., July 1898, Not. 610-29.
1897). The Government of India in­
formed tho Secretary of State that no tax was actually levied from Ghafiris and
that no deduction would be made from the Zanzibar subsidy (despatch No. 16,
dated 27th January 1897).
91-A. Collections for first half of 1896-97 were only $6,884. Sayyid Faisal
asked 6 years to pay off, but promised interest after 3rd year.
91-B. To facilitate collection, tho collection of the punitive tax was
farmed to Ratansi Parshotam for $16,000 a year. As tlie Sultan appears to
Lave regularly made the payments contemplated by the revised arrangement,
and under the then existiug ciroumstancos, the Government of India thought
that no immediate orders wore called for (No. 1044-E. A., dated 11th July
1898).
?1-O* Tho Political Agent reported on 14th March 1898 that up to date
$29,711 bad been paid out of $77,894. In 1898 the indemnity tax was farmed
to Ratansi Parshotam for $18,000, though Daraodar Baramsi offered $26,000.
ttnvmnntfi then continued to bo reonlnrlv made.