IOR/R/15/6/255

This volume concerns the renewal of the 1891 Commercial Treaty between Britain and Muscat. The original treaty was given a term of twelve years, which was extended at regular intervals afterwards, initially for several years at a time and later on an annual basis.

The volume covers the period May 1938-February 1939 (abbreviated as 'Feby' on the volume's cover). It documents informal discussions between the two parties regarding the replacement of the treaty; it also includes extensive correspondence discussing amendments, drafts and revised drafts. Also discussed are discrepancies between the English and Arabic texts of the draft treaty, and preparations for the final signature copies of the new treaty.

The correspondence largely consists of interdepartmental discussion between officials of the India Office, Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, the Board of Trade, and the Government of India's External Affairs Department. Other correspondents include the Secretary of State for India, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and the Sultan of Muscat and Oman [Sa‘īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd].

In addition to correspondence the volume contains a full draft of the new treaty (ff 11-45) and notes on meetings between British representatives and the Sultan of Muscat and Oman in April 1938, concerning amendments to particular articles (ff 48-60).

The Arabic language material consists of several items of correspondence and draft Arabic translations of certain passages from the treaty (English texts appear alongside the Arabic translations).