عمان والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية لهيرمان إيليتس- غير مفهرس

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869، the advent of steam navigation in the Indian Ocean، and the shifting cotton textile trade re- sulting from the American Civil War، had caused something of a recession in Muscat's economy. No longer did American cotton products dominate its marketplace. Their ex- port had been stopped during the Civil War years and replaced in Omani bazaars by cotton textiles spun in India.

In talks with the Omani ruler، Sayyid Turki bin Sa'id، a younger son of the late Sayyid Sa'id، Shufeldt broached Washington's inter- est in reopening the Muscat consulate. Sayyid Turki readily assented، although noting that American trade had been for many years con- ducted satisfactorily without a resident Ameri- can consul. Prior to Shufeldt's departure، Sayyid Turki confirmed his agreement in writ- ing to the reopening of an American consu- late. Ticonderoga's paymaster conducted in- dependent inquiries during the vessel's stay in Muscat and concluded that there was scope for an increase of trade between the United States and Oman.

The Second American Consulate Washington agreed with. Shufeldt's recom- mendations that the Muscat consulate be reopened. In the absence of a readily suitable American candidate، Louis Maguire، an Irishman resident in Muscat، who represented a number of European and American firms، was selected as American consul.

Maguire's designation was agreeable to Sayyid Turki، who formally received the new American consul in audience on July 22، 1880. A delighted Maguire reported to the De- partment of State in Washington that the Omanis had hoisted the American ensign over the Muscati forts and fired a 21 - gun salute. All vessels in the Muscat harbor، Omani and for- eign، had been decorated for the occasion and the populace of Muscat celebrated the day as a holiday.

The system of using non-American consuls was continued until 1906، when Washington decided that henceforth only career consular officers not engaged in private trade should be assigned to all American consular posts. Be- tween that year and the closure of the Muscat consulate nine years later، three American

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consuls served in the post. Throughout this period، Mohamed Fazel، an Indian expatriate first appointed by Maguire، whose relations with the ruler of Oman were excellent، re- mained as deputy consul and later as vice con- sul. He was serving as acting consul in 1914 when World War I broke out and the govern- ment of the United States chose to close the post، chiefly because of political uncertainties. Trade and Missionaries

By the turn of the century، trade between Oman and the United States had expanded somewhat. A new American product called shooks-a set of barrel staves with acces- sories to be assembled into crates-offered more attractive packaging for Oman's dates. Small quantities of American lumber، wax paper، flour، and kerosene oil also had been added to the lists.

At the time of the first career consul's arri- val in October 1906، available statistics suggest that total import and export trade be- tween the two countries was slightly less than a quarter of million dollars. Thereafter، unfor- tunately، it dropped sharply، particularly in American products sold to Oman. Reasons included Indian and British competition، coupled with the difficulties of Muscat and Matrah merchants in reducing overstocked in- ventories due to internal distribution prob- lems. Then، too، many American products were simply unmarketable in Oman; others were inadequately packaged to compete effec- tively.

At the same time، Oman's date imports to the United States grew significantly. Incle- ment weather conditions caused seasonal fluc- tuations، but for many years about two-thirds of Oman's date exports were consigned to American buyers. Between 1902 and 1913، save for two low crop years، values of Oman dates sales to the the United States averaged $100،000. The cheapness and nutritive value of dates caused a surge in American consump- tion. By 1911، date imports were estimated to be about 16،256 metric tons each year.

Already، however، the date trade was changing. Direct steamship service from Europe and India to the Gulf، from about 1887 onwards، meant that sailing ships، such as those from Salem which had visited Muscat