Page 17 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

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thus received French papers belonged to the
district of Jaliini and the town of Sup, within
Muscat territories. These men were neither of
French nationality nor naturalization; they had
no authority from the Sultan to change their
allegiance, and they had no permanent residence
or settlement in French territory, but merely
paid fleeting visits thereto for the purpose of
renewing their licences.
Many of these flagholdcrs engaged in the Slave
Trade. Moreover, on returning to the waters and
territory of Muscat, they claimed that the Sultan
was not entitled to board or search their vessels,
or to exercise any jurisdiction over them, and
that they were entitled to he treated as French
proteges, and to bo exempt from his laws as
regards customs, quarantine, and other matters.
The Sultan of Muscat never admitted that the
grant of French flags or papers was warranted by
Treaty or usage, and made repeated protests on
the subject, lie appealed to llis Majesty’s
Government, who on several occasions made
representations to the French Government.
Finally, it was decided that the whole question
of the grant of French Hags to subjqcls of the
Sultan should he submitted to the arbitration of
the International Court at The Hague.
The following two points were submitted to the
decision of the Tribunal, which met at *1 no Hague
on tlio 2 f ill July, 1005 :—
(«.) The scope of the reciprocal "Declaration
made by Great Britain and Franco in 1862 in
relation to the issue by France to subjects of the
Sultan of papers authorizing them to fly the
French flag; and
(&•) The nature of the privileges aud immunities
claimed by subjects of the Sultan who were
owners or masters of dhows aud possessed Frcuch
papers, or were members of the crew of such
dhows, and their families, especially as to the
manner in which such privileges and immunities
affected the jurisdiction of His Highness over his
said subjects.
The results of the Award may be summarized
as follows:—
France, may renew the licences to fly tho French
flag grunted to owners of dhows beforo the
2nd January, 1892. But no licences given since
that date arc valid unless the grantee was a bond
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