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                          his proceedings to Tehran; but he lost no time in sending false information about
                          the British Resident at Bushire.and the British despatch-boat Sphinx, when
                          they were only assisting in carrying out the Amir’s own orders, and in preventing
                          a very serious question assuming still more serious dimensions. Colonel Ross
                          would have been perfectly justified in sending the Sphinx to replace the British
                          flag on the Iran by force, and in protecting the Blossc Lynch from seizure ; that
                          he did not do so had been an additional proof of his courteous and conciliatory
                          nature, and of his friendly feeling towards Persia. It was suggested to the
                          Amin, in a private and unofficial way, that it might be well perhaps to replace
                          the Foreign Office Agent at Muhammerah by a more intelligent, conciliatory
                          and straightforward functionary.
                          (viii) Communications between naval officers and naval chiefs or officials. Opera­
                                tions on land by naval officers to suppress the trade, slaves, 1898-99.
                              52.  In June 1898 Commander Baker of H. M. S. Sphinx observed a
                           Secret e., November 1898, No». 560-600 (Nos. native vessel which lie suspected of being
                          594*597)*                    engaged in slave traffic, close in shore,
                          abreast of the village of Sinna, in the territory of the Sultan of Maskat. Endea­
                          vours were made to overhaul the vessel, but the crew succeeded in effecting a
                          landing before the Sphinx could reach her.
                             Commander Baker then sent away two boats, one fully armed to
                          intercept the fugitives on land and to prevent their escape, the other with
                          side arms to deliver a message from Commander Baker to the Sheikh of Sinna.
                          The Sheikh came out surrounded by followers armed with Martini-Henry rifles,
                          swords and spears, and a collision was only avoided by the bold front shown by
                          the officers in command of the landing parties,
                              53.  Ultimately Lieutenant Robinson landed unarmed with the interpreter
                          under the protection of the cutter and a landing party lying off the beach in a
                          boat, and interviewed the headman, with the result that the fugitive crew of the
                          badati were handed over to Commander Baker. On examination they proved
                          mostly to be Arabs and were allowed to resume possession of their vessel.
                             53«A. The Sultan of.Maskat complained of these proceedings to Major Fagan,
                                                       and as they were considered irregular,
                             Secret E., March 1899, Nos. 347*254.
                                                        Her Majesty’s Government, on the recom­
                          mendation of the Indian Government, directed that, save in exceptional circum­
                          stances, all intercourse between naval officers and native chiefs or officials
                          at Maskat and in the Persian Gulf should be conducted through the medium or
                          with the knowledge of the Political Officers.
                             53-B. Stress was also laid on the rule already recognised, that in the
                          absence of exceptional circumstances naval officers should undertake no active
                          measures on land without the previous approval of the responsible political
                          officers, and that naval officers are responsible to the superior political com­
                          manders for the exercise of the discretion left to them (Secretary of State’s
                          despatch No. 43, Secret, dated 16th December 1898).
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