IOR/R/15/6/258

This file relates to the renewal of the Commercial Treaty between Britain and Muscat. The original treaty of 1891 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. In 1939 a replacement treaty was signed between the two parties.

The file concerns the impact on the new treaty of the recent constitutional changes in India and Pakistan. The correspondence covers the following: the appointment of consuls by the British Government on behalf of India (as stipulated in the 1939 treaty), and whether this arrangement will continue once India becomes a republic; the question of whether the new dominion of Pakistan automatically remains a party to the treaty; the Sultan of Muscat and Oman's [Sa‘īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd] intention not to renew the treaty, which is due to expire in February 1951.

The file features the following correspondents: the Political Agent and Consul, Muscat; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the United Kingdom's High Commissioner for India; officials of the Foreign Office and the Government of Pakistan.

Included with the correspondence is a copy of an order issued by Governor-General Mountbatten of Burma [Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma] on 14 August 1947 – an agreement regarding the devolution of international rights and obligations upon the dominions of India and Pakistan