مجموعة ٣٧/٢٠ "مسقط: العلاقات الفرنسية مع مسقط" [و‎‎٢‎٠] (٥٥/٤٠)

in course of preparation, it was decided inter-departmentally, after consultation G. of I. tel.
with the Government of India, that exception could not reasonably be taken by the ^49 S.,
French under the terms of the Declaration to the establishment of a station for the p* *^ 22/29
civil air route in Muscat territory. It seemed probable, however, that a protest jq j r t0
would be justified in the event of strategic aerodromes being established in the g. of I.,
ownership of H.M. Government in that territory ; and the Government of India, 25.4.29,
after consultation with the Political Resident, agreed that the best solution would
probably be that the necessary landing grounds should be provided by the Sultan, t * g y^
the expenses of equipment and maintenance being met by H.M. Government, fees 22.6.29,
or a regular rent for their use being charged by the Sultan, the British flag not P. 4270/29.
being hoisted, and defence arrangements so far as possible being carried out by
the Muscat authorities, in return, if necessary, for some financial consideration.
The Bunder Gisseh Incident of 1899.
Grant to France by the Sultan of a Coaling Station.
30. The history of the Bunder Gisseh incident of 1899 is as follows. In the
early part of 1899 a French war vessel visiting Muscat (at which, as stated in
paragraph 16 above, France was then represented by a Vice-Consul) secured from
the Sultan of Muscat an undertaking to grant a coaling station to the French
Government. The terms of the agreement, which was dated 7th March 1898,
were as follows : “ Be it known to all that we have given to the French Government
a place for coal on the coast at a distance from dwelling houses where it would not 2.3.99,
hurt them, outside Muscat, a piece of land about the size of a godown in one of the P. 345/99
coves dependent on Muscat as a mark of favour and respect to the great French
Government on account of the friendship and concord.” It will be seen that this
agreement, which is in quite general terms and does not specify the location of the
coal depot, makes no reference to fortifications or to the flying of a flag.
Pol. Res. to
G. of I., T. 8,
lbf.2.99.
G. of I.
Desp. 39,
Cancellation of the Grant consequent on pressure from H.M. Government.
31. On the news that this concession had been granted becoming public
property, the Sultan was at once called on for an explanation of his action in granting
a coal depot to the French in violation of his Agreement with Great Britain of 1891
(paragraph 11 above). His Highness replied that he had merely given the French,
as a sign of friendship, coaling facilities similar to those already enjoyed by
H.M. Government (see paragraphs 39-40 below) and declined to communicate the
text of the concession. Strong further pressure was brought to bear on the Sultan.
On 10th February 1899 he informed the French Vice-Consul that he was being
pressed by H.M. Government to withdraw the grant as being a violation of the
Agreement of 1891. The Consul, in writing, entirely declined to recognise that
Agreement, as being in contravention of the Declaration of 1862, and stated that
should any difficulties arise between the Sultan and H.M. Government “1 will
have them removed in accordance with the Treaty of 1862.” On 13th February
the Sultan cancelled the concession. On the 15th February, faced with an
ultimatum, coupled with a threat of bombardment failing a public cancellation, he
wrote to the French Vice-Consul that he could no longer resist the pressure of
H.M. Government, and he enclosed a copy of the Agreement of 1891 for M. Ottavi's
information. The Vice-Consul, in a written reply, intimated that he had already
made it clear that he could not recognise the Agreement of 1891, which was in
contravention of the Declaration of 1862, and that he could not accept the
cancellation of the grant which the Sultan had made. On 17th February the
Sultan announced his cancellation of the concession in a public Darbar.
Discussions between Lord Salisbury and M. Gambon.
32. In the meantime, however, discussions had taken place in London with the
French Ambassador, and the record of the conversations which took place between
M. Cambon and Lord Salisbury is of sufficient importance as bearing on the
construction of the declaration of 1862 to merit quotation.
33. On the 15th February 1899 Lord Salisbury informed the Ambassador at To Paris,
Paris that the French Ambassador in London had spoken to him “ about the N< >- 48,
supposed acquisition by France of a harbour at Muscat. ... He said he had no
instructions to speak to me about it, but that he thought it better to mention it at
once to avoid any misapprehension. The only thing that had happened was that
the French Government, wanting both for their ships of war and for their