'File 9/5 Vol. 1 Naval & Shipping: A. British Navy: (5) Khor Kuwai' [‎9v] (23/384)

8
fc'.O. to
Paris, 58,
22.2.99,
P. 1781/99.
commerce a coaling station, bad leased of the Imam of Muscat a certain site co
that station. He called to mind the engagement we had entered into in 1862 i-, es t a bl
to trench on the independence of the Imam of Muscat and reminded me also of t xam i ne
arrangement into which Muscat had entered in the time of Louis Philippe to all( iatter f e
all Frenchmen to hold land, or receive leases or alienations of land in the territc
of the Sultan. He apprehended that the action of the French Government in taki 35. 0
a coaling station was within their powers. J said that the matter had been iu jecretarj
hands of the Indian Government, and I was not absolutely certain of the positi?reaty o
in which it stood, but 1 would enquire. But it appeared to me, upon his oerritory,
statement of it, that France had gone somewhat beyond her treaty rights. lf;rant of
State accepts the lease of the territory of another potentate it practically interfe|ght. I
in the independence of that potentate and the integrity of his dominions. We ha aent 1
had sundry examples to illustrate that proposition recently. According to establish
reading of the engagement of 1862, it is not competent for France, as a State, ufferano
accept a lease from the Imam of Muscat, because so far as that lease extends it lat
interference with the independence of a sovereign. She can no more accept a lea ae hnan
than she can accept an alienation. This view, of course, would not apply to a lea
given to a French citizen in his private capacity. I would, however, enquire in
the matter, which I did not think was of very great importance, but my impress!
is that a coaling station leased by the French Government from the Imam . 3(3. A
Muscat would be an infraction of the Declaration of 1862.” LM. Go
ettled ii
34. On 22nd February, a week after the public cancellation of the Freuo the Su
concession by the Sultan, M. Gambon was again received by Lord Salisbury. “ br coali
complained very earnestly of the excessive action which he thought the Admiif the gi
had pursued towards the Imam of Muscat and of the publicity which had bepndition
given to this affair, which induced the newspapers to adopt a very disagreeablnd sho
tone towards the French Government. ... I replied to him that I had examinortificati
into the matter since he spoke to me last time and I was compelled to adhere to troice in
view which I had laid before him. It seemed to me that the Treaty of 1862, whirere ent
bound both France and England to respect the independence of the Imam of Musc^reat B:
was seriously threatened if either Power, acting as a sovereign State, could tairivilege
from the Imam a lease of any portion of his territory. If it could be done forourse of
small piece of ground, it could be done over a large piece ; and after what h
taken place in China it was impossible to say that the practical independence
the Imam would not, in regard to such portions of territory, be impaired.
“His Fxcellency declined entirely to admit my interpretation of the Treaty bi
setting that question aside, he thought that our view on that subject, which vv;
certainly open to discussion, need not have been asserted by a threat
bombardment.
I mentioned, and 1 reiterated the opinion in order that he might be under i
doubt with respect to it, that France had so far violated the Treaty by taking;
lease of a portion of the territory 7 of the Imam. I quite admitted that the affair hi
not been conducted as quietly as I think it well might have been. ... I ad mitt
that in the matter of sentiment he had a grievance, though in the matter
substance our action was entirely right. I also told him that we had for a gre
number of years special engagements with the Imam which involved some paymen
of money on our side and a very rigid prohibition of the alienation of his ov
territory on his side. The existence of these stipulations must be taken into accoui
if the action ol our authorities had seemed to be rather summary, and they hi
undoubtedly been actuated by the fear lest the lease which France had obtain!
should only be a step on the road to the obtaining of a portion of the Imaii;
littoral in permanent possession.
Ilis Excellency assured me that any such designs were very far from t
contemplation of his Government and he was quite willing to make any declaratii
which was necessary to place the innocent intentions of his Government beyot
ooubt. But he asked me whether it would not be possible, after such declaration
had been made, to provide in some manner for the establishment of a coali:
station, which was really a matter of great necessity to France. He said that
suggestion which I had made on a previous occasion, and repeated again, that
might be taken in the name of a brenoh citizen, was made difficult on the presf
occasion because the English newspapers had appeared to dictate such a course
a somewhat threatening manner, and he thought that the same end might be arrh
at if trance formally disclaimed any inference from her possession of a coal def
37. 1
(a)
(b)