عمان والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية لهيرمان إيليتس- غير مفهرس

annually، gradually disappeared. Instead، fas- ter non-American flag carriers increasingly carried cargoes of dates to American mar- kets-often via Indian or European ports. Moreover، internal problems in Oman، begin- ning in 1913، adversely affected the Omani date industry and presented opportunities for competition from Basra dates، which ulti- mately usurped much of the American market. In 1920، an American firm، Hills Brothers، es- tablished a date-packing plant in Muscat، but fluctuating supplies soon dictated its closure.

Brief recognition needs to be given to the yeoman work of American medical mis- sionaries in Oman. In December 1893، the Dutch Reformed Church of America was per- mitted to establish a permanent station of its Arabian Mission in Muscat. Over the next 70 years with an interregnum between 1915 and 1928 - dedicated American missionaries، most of them doctors and nurses، performed sorely needed medical work for the govern- ment and people of Oman. An Arabian Mis- sion hospital was. established in Matrah as early as 1909، and medical work was per- formed in both Muscat and Matrah، as well as occasional medical forays into Inner Oman. After the accession of Sultan Qaboos in 1970، the Arabian Mission voluntarily turned over its medical facilities to the Oman government. Missionary personnel continue to work in Oman on secondment to the Ministry of Health. The work of three or more generations of selfless American medical missionaries، even more than consuls and merchants، con- tributed immensely to the creation of people- to-people empathy between the United States and Oman. Their contribution to American- Omani friendship is indelible.

A New Era of Understanding Although the American consulate in Muscat was not reopened after World War I، the United States sent its Minister to Iraq، Paul Knabenshue، to Muscat in 1934 with a presi- dential letter marking the centennial celebra- tion of the the 1833 treaty. Welcomed by the Omani ruler، His Highness Sayyid Sa'id bin Taimur، Knabenshue presented an official in- vitation to the Sultan from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to visit the United States. Accompanied by his father، Sayyid Sa'id bin

Taimur arrived in America on March 3، 1938، and toured the country. In Washington، he was formally greeted by Secretary of State Cordell Hull، and was the honored guest at a White House state dinner given by President Roosevelt.

During World War II، Sayyid Sa'id bin Taimur made available the RAF air facilities at Salalah in Dhofar and on Masira Island to U.S. aircraft bound for the Far East. A small number of U.S. Air Force maintenance per- sonnel were stationed at these installations in order to service transiting American aircraft. The United States was most appreciative of his assistance، which contributed to the war effort.

In 1956، with growing prospects for oil in Oman، Washington proposed reestablishing an American consular office in Muscat. In re- sponse، Sayyid Sa'id bin Taimur suggested that the 1833 treaty was in some respects out- dated and that a new consular treaty should be negotiated. Discussions began in June 1957، with the Sultan personally conducting the talks for Oman; in the absence of a resident Ameri- can representative، Walter Schwinn، the American Consul General in Dhahran، regu- larly shuttled to Salalah to handle the talks for the American side.

After lengthy negotiations، a new Treaty of Amity، Economic Relations and Consular Rights was signed on December 20، 1958، by Sayyid Sa'id bin Taimur and Consul General Schwinn. It superseded the earlier 1833 treaty and، in accordance with Article XII، accorded each party the right to send consular represen- tatives to the cities of the other state. The new treaty was ratified by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on May 9، 1959. It was the privilege of the writer of this article، repre- senting President Eisenhower، to exchange treaty ratifications with Sayyid Sa'id bin Taimur on May 11، 1960، in Salalah.

Following the accession of Sultan Qaboos on August 3، 1970، His Majesty sent a mes- sage to Washington announcing his succes- sion، and his determination to honor and re-. spect the treaty relations between the two countries. The U.S. State Department sent a reply on August 26، congratulating His Majesty and affirming the wish of the U.S. government to maintain and strengthen the

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