'No 413 Vol 19. Revised Commercial Treaty with Muscat' [‎156r] (323/360)

No. 97, dated Bushire, the 19tli (received 28th) February 1905 (Confidential).
From— -Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E. ; Officiating Political Eesident in tlie Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—S. M. Fraseh , Esq., C.I.E., Officiating Secretary to the Government of India
iu the Foreign Department.
As the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Maskat will probably not be able to deal with the
reference for some time owing to absence from Head-quarters with the
Gazetteer party, I have the honour to forward, for the ad interim information
_ of Government, copy of a letter which I
No. 22, dated the 19th February 190o. , 3 j i • • i.* --1
have addressed to him m connection with
' Eoreign Department letter No. 452-E.B., dated 1st February, a copy of which
was forwarded to him for report.
No. 22, dated Buehire, the 19th February 1905.
From— M ajor P. Z, Cox, C.I.E., Officiating Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian
Gulf,
To— Major W. G. Grkt , I.A., Officiating Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , and His Britannic
Majesty's Consul, Maskat.
I have the honour to forward a copy of Foreign Department letter
No. 4i52-E.B., dated 1st February 1905, regarding jurisdiction at Maskat over
the subjects of Christian Powers having no Consular representation in the
Sultan's territory, and-to add the following remarks with reference thereto.
2. On page 11 of the draft Maskat case for the Hague Arbitration, of
which you have received a copy under this office endorsement No. 7 of 28th
January, it is stated, with myself as authority, that there have been up to the
present very few French citizens in Maskat, and that at the time when the
case for arbitration arose there was in Oman only one French citizen (Goguyer)
outside the Consular Establishment and "one citizen of a Christian State not
having a Consul at Maskat who was treated as being under the French
Consul."
The person referred to was the late Monsieur Bevidion, the Eussian
Armenian, and representative of the Odessa firm of Kever Koff & Co.
3. As far as I remember this individual, when he first came to open a
branch in Maskat, brought credentials to the French Consulate and looked to
that Consulate for protection in his business affairs.
His title to protection by the French Consul, if he so desired, was not I
think ever questioned by the Sultan ; and while I was in Maskat never came
into prominent issue. When Bevidion was drowned last summer in Maskat
harbour, I think I remember being informed that his effects were taken posses
sion of and his estate wound up by the French Consul. In this the Sultan
must, no doubt, have acquiesced.
4. I would turn now to the clause on page 24 of the draft Maskat case
wherein it is stated, though in brackets as if its inclusion was doubtful, that
the Sultan of Maskat has always been prepared to accept French jurisdic
tion as attaching to subjects of a Christian Power not having a Consul at
Maskat, who have registered themselves at the French Consulate there."
The words "has always been" seems little sweeping from the fact that
cases in point have been so extremely rare.
In my own experience 1 can only remember one other instance besides
the case of Bevidion, of a foreign subject taking advantage of the good offices
or protection of the French Consulate, namely, that of Count (or Major)
Leontieff and a companion who paid a visit to Maskat about three years ago,
and, if I remember right, approached the Sultan always through the French
Consul.
5. With regard to the concluding paragraph of the Foreign Department
letter under reference, I have no knowledge of the Sultan ever having actively
indicated his preparedness in the direction suggested.