'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎168r] (340/386)

Saad, a French protege, and a buggalow Large trading vessel. belonging to a British Indian trader,
the matter was represented to the British Consul by M. Ottavi, who sent the
complainant to the British Consul. Major Fagan finding that Salim-bin-Saad
was a native of Sur, and that the collision occurred in Maskat territorial waters,
informed M. Ottavi that, in view of the question pending between Her
Majesty’s Government and the French Republic regarding the right of France
to exercise jurisdiction within the Sultan’s dominions over subjects of His
Highness wlio bad obtained the right to fly the French flag, he “ only accepted
M. Ottavi’s claim on behalf of Salim bin-Saad, on the understanding that such
acceptance should not be considered to prejudice the question at issue between
the two Governments’*. No exception was taken to Major Fagan’s action at
the time : but when the question was referred to the Government of India again
in the following year, a stronger line was adopted, and Captain Cox was informed
that, should the French Consul again claim jurisdiction in any similar case, his
claim should not be even provisionally admitted, but should be contested in each
case.
21st October 1901.
32
No. IB4 (Secret—External), dated Simla, the 9th October 1902.
F rom —The Government of India in the Foreign Department,
To—The Right Hon’ble Lord George F. Hamilton, His Majesty’s Secretary of
State for India
With reference to the correspondence ending with the Viceroy’s Secret
telegram, dated the 25th March 1902, regarding the u<e of the French flag by
subjects of the Sultan of Maskat, we have the honour to forward a copy of the
papers, as noted in the enclosed list.
2. We would invite special attention to the letter from our Political
A^ent at Maskat, No 395, dated the 12th September 1902, in which Major Cox
emphasises the importance of the recent capture of Omani dhows by the
Portuguese as affording an opportunity for again addressing the French Govern
ment in the matter: and w r e would suggest, for the consideration of His
Majesty’s Government, that the French Government might now be invited
to furnish an authentic list of the Omani subjects who are entitled to possess
French flags and papers, and to state, for the information of the Saltan, the
grounds on which each flag has been given, and the nature and extent o! the
rights and privileges which they claim for their proteges.
We would also strongly recommend that, in view of the assurance given
by the French Ambassador to the Marquess
• Vide the letter from the Foreign Office to Mr. T/msdoWne in February last,* a strong
Htrbert, No. 73, dated the 26th Februarj 1902. 01 Jj msuuwiitj iu i-cui uciij xa, , „
utroert, ,3. protest should he entered against the
issue of new papers to the Sultan’s subjects, as reported in Major Cox’s letter
No. 420, dated the 20th September 1902.
3. In his letter No. 395, dated the 12th September 1?02, to which we
have already adverted, Major Cox has again suggested the desirabihty of appomt-
ino- a British Agent at Sur. We shall await an expression of opinion from our
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 The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. on this proposal, which we are not, as at
present advised, prepared to recommend to Xour Lordship. In the meanw me,
we think it desirable to invite attention to the new developments m the case
as indicated in the enclosed papers, in the hope that His Majesty s Government
will now be enabled to come to a satisfactory understanding wi i re
Government on this question, which so closely concerns the maintenance ot
our influence with the Sultan of Maskat.
33
Telegram, dated the 21st May 1903.
From—His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, London,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy, Simla.
Maskat. Lord Lansdowne bad conversation on the 18th with Cambon
in which Cambon, who had come straight from Paris, demanded, on behalf of