'Précis of Maskat affairs, 1892-1905; In two parts: Part I 1892-1898; Part II 1899-1905 By J A Saldanha, BA, LL B' [‎52] (68/176)

52
241. On the 25tli May the Government of India informed the Kesident,
secret E., Jane 1891, Nos. vide No. 199. Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , that a report had been
No. io95-e „ dated simla, 2oth may i89i, from made to Her Majesty s Secretary of State
Foreign Department, to Resident. Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . for and requested early communi
cation of further information on the subject.
242. On the 11th June 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. forwarded the copy of a letter
Secret September 1891. No». 14-24, vide which His Highness Sayyid Faisal pro-
N0,16 - posed to address the President of the
French Republic regarding the granting of flags by the representatives of that
nation to His Highness' subjects, and also the copy of a letter from His High
ness, soliciting the advice of the Government of India as to what action he
could safely take to uphold his jurisdiction in his own waters over such of his
subjects as had obtained French flags.
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. wrote :—
" His Hig-hmess remarked that if they and their boats can be covered by the French flag
in his territorial waters, the Fie&ch flag may some day be held to cover their houses and pro-
psrty on land. "
243. In a letter of the same date 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. reported that eight of
the principal Sheikhs of the Jenebeh of Sur had stated to him that they had
got their French papers from the French Consul at Aden and not from Obokh,
and that they had paid a fee of Rs. 40 for each paper.
Secret e., September 1891, Noi, 14-24. tmfc No. 243-A. On the 11th August 189 the
22 No 1607-e., dated simla, nth augnst 1891, ^ ore ij? n Secretary wrote to the Resident
from Foreign Department, to Resident, Persian Qnlf. aS follows J"—
" I am directed to say that the use of the French fag hy subjects of the Sultan of Maslcafi
can have no effect as against Bis Highness. He has full authority to punish arjy of his
subjects who may infringe the laws of his country, whatever Sag or papers they mav have
accepted, and he may safely take any steps he pleases to uphold his jurisdiction in his own
waters over such of his subjects as have got French flags.
f Tj Th ^ m - at l er . W n llberep0 1 ed / 0 , Her Ma i es Vs Secretary of State for the information
of Her Majesty s Government who have already been addressed. I d the meantime it seems
undesirable that the Sultan should send a protest direct to the French Government, but
Colonel Mockler should not prohibit him from doing so. Our action in the matter should be
confined to advice.
.. . H ^ Highness the Sultan accepted the advice given him not to address
the French Government on the subject.
245. On the 2nd November the 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. reported that two Sur
^Secret e .. December 1891, Nos. 30.35, v%d» No. boats under French colours, and said to
J -D 1 • •nrn m ^vc on board 25 to 80 slaves each, had
passed Buahire. Wh.le recent information was to the effect that as maiy as
50 such heats with slaves on board were bound for the same port, Eio-hfeen
hLtVl ^ Under ^nch colours had put in to Lingal, and P several ",ative
A^ent S Ilsrah ^ paper3 witl1 tl,e rrench Consular
Agent at Basrah. But nothing had been ascertained either by the British
Consul at Basrah or the Vwe-Consul at Muhammerah regarding the alleged
IS? m • r 18 letter concluded ^ correspondence on the subject for
246. These facts referred to in paragraphs 239—44 were dulv brouMit to
da'eTgth June e iS9i r 1mf ia f despatches Nos. 92 (Secret-External),
aatecl 9tn June 1891, and 147 (Secret—External), dated 24th August l<-qi
FrenTh cLs'^ldilftof't , ! as l , ex P ressed tl«t the actfon of the
"1S 'o^fe tt0n ^T■ nrWh f
the'F (^"^^^e 8 ^ a ^c ^^^^dated^ttT'^eoember ^91) e it e appeared ^ that
the French Government had repudiated the action of the French Consul at
nlrt be^repeate'd! papers ln 9 ues ' ;io11 and had given assurance thaUt would
Mad^La^and^if duTv'bTouIht ^ so ,, ascert « ned to ^ist at Obokh and
[Despatches Nos. 46 66 and 98 TV+ a ,. i Tl'T "l Secretary of State
and fth June 1891] ^"External, dated the 2ord March. 4th May