Sorry this is not an academic text. It is however a confidential message from the British Consul in Oman from Jan 3, 1965, discussing the lack of development plans for the country, following the discovery of oil.
"He [Chauncy] could not get the Sultan to embark on any serious planning. I do not believe he made any serious effort to do so and I blame him for this and his wife even more. She has a deep influence on the Sultan and keeps on saying that 'oil really must not be allowed to upset the happy little Omani donkey cart' - music to the Sultan's ears but a traumatic incitement to me to pull her hair out by the roots. One must not overdo this. All of us who have to work with the Sultan know what a stubborn customer he is. It is just a pity that his closest 'advice' at this important time should come from an undistinguished couple who are charming, socially engaging and decent; but who basically share his views, are wholly steeped in a bygone age of India, and are in fact disinclined to tender advice. They are his humble agents and, for practical purposes his unquestioning and loyal servants. I sometimes wonder if this is precisely why the Sultan hired them."
This all came in the midst of a formal letter.
No comments:
Post a Comment