CONFIDENTIAL 2 This has already affected the Development Department. Boustead wished to recruit an Indian, Vazir Hassan, as Assistant Agricultural Supervisor. Hassan accordingly resigned from his previous job and went to the U.K. High Commission in Bombay to make arrangements. When he went with a representative of the High Commission to see the Protector of Emigrants they ran into difficulties; the Protector said he would have to refer the case to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi because Of Magud's report. So Hassan is still waiting and out of a job. This will affect the Development Department more in future, Not only may it be impossible for Boustead to recruit new doctors, agricultats etc. from India but it may be impossible to renew the contracts of those already working for him. And India is far the best source of supply for the sort of man he needs. It may also affect Consulate stall. Masud is, as I have reported before, horrified at the backward state of Muscat and he realises that stopping the employment of Indians will delay development; he also realises that we and Boustead would respect contracts more than the Muscati authorities have done. He is however a man of the highest principles and, if he seems to me to apply them with excessive rigidity, that is probably a criticism of me more than him. In many ways I greatly respect his stand, which could be a most salutary lesson to the Sultanate, but it is awkward for us. و و I do not think we would achieve much by approaching the Sultan. He would hate to climb down, he would probably take his stand on Sharia law or the Ibadhi interpretation thereof, and, if the Development programme is delayed by failure to engage Indians, I do not think he will shed many tears. I suggest therefore that the best line may be a high level approach to the Indian Government asking them to make exceptions for the Development Department and, if it proves necessary, for this Consulate General, I should perhaps report that Mesud has had other difficulties. The Sultan has so far refused to receive him and seldom answers his letters; and the Sultan has refused to allow him to import alcohol on the grounds that he is a Muslim. Masud is a strict Muslim and does not drink himself but, as a representative of a non-Muslim country, he cannot see why he should not be allowed to offer alcohol to his guests. Masud feels pretty strongly about all this but I do not think he has allowed it to warp his judgement in the present case. I am copying this letter to Robert Walmsley in Arabian Department and to the U.K. High Commission in Bombay. CONFIDENTIAL
