Page 106 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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424. Captain Cox in his letter of the 3rd April 1901 mentioned the
existence of an excellent harbour at Khor
Seerot B.. September 1001, Nob. 1-87.
Jernma, a few miles south of Sur, where
a ship could be stationed and would ho within easy communicating distance of
the Sultan. Subsequently ho reported that the French Government had arrang­
ed to keep a man-of-war at Sur to set as a despatch boat between Maskat and
Sur.
425. The attention of the Naval Commander-in-Chiof was thereupon drawn
to the harbour in question, and ho was asked to arrange that the British flag
should bo displayed as frequently as possible in the neighbourhood of Sur
owing to French activity in that quarter, and that Captain Cox should bo
consulted as toother places which might ho visited with advantage.
420. In letter No. 211, dated the 31st May 1901, Captain Cox had pointed
out the urgent need of the services of the British man-of-war in the Gulf
in connection with the presence and doings of Mons. Ottavi and the two
French cruisers at Sur, and the development of the French flag question, and
had enquirod whether arrangements could in future bo made :—
(o) That His Majesty’s ships passing up and down the Gulf might be
directed to call at Maskat and might he permitted to make
their services temporarily available if necessary, at Captain Cox's
request, in the absence of urgent demands for their employment
elsewhere.
(5) That Captain Cox should bo kept informed as far as possible of the
movements of His Majesty’s ships, also when it might be neces­
sary to withdraw those ships on duty at Maskat.
427. A communication was then issued by the Marino Department to the
Naval Commander-in-Chief in accordance with Captain Cox’s requests (Foreign
Department, dated 2nd August 1902).
428. In letter No. 251, dated the 28th June 1901, Captain Cox reported
that the Sultan had despatched 80
Secret E., October 1901, Noe. 124-186.
"Wahabis to Sur to strengthen the garrison
there, and that the French flag-holders having interpreted their advent as por­
tending the imminent arrival of the Sultan to take severe measures against them
had asked Mons. Ottavi to state specifically what his support would amount to,
in case the Sultan arrived on the scene and proceeded to employ forco against
them. He replied that as they were the Sultan's subjects, he could not give
them any protection.
429. It was suggested that the Sultan should be induced to take the
necessary measures with the object of strengthening his position at Sur, e.g.,
entertainment of a force of trained British Indian sepoys at Sur, purchase of
an armed steam yacht for proceeding up and down the coast, and periodical
visits to Sur and residing there for a while, and taking loan of a British official
for administering the Sur Customs (Foreign Department letter to Captain Cox,
No. 1330-E. A., dated 8th August 1901).
430. The Sultan was not prepared to accept our suggestion for the enter­
tainment of a trained force of British
Secret E-, October 1901, Nos. 124-165.
Indian sepoys, but took steps to strengthen
his garrison at Sur. He also built a line of blook-houses commanding the
caravan routes to and from the interior, and arrangements were made for
supply of regular information by the Bombay Customs Department, which
would enable His Highness to keep a cheek on the import trade. The Sultan
however could not be induced to place a British official in charge of his cus­
toms, since he feared that the arrangement might lead to a coalition of his
subjects against him (Political Agent’s No. 352, dated September 1901).
He arranged also to purchase a steamer (see Chapter XXV, para. 62G).

(iv) Notification proposed to be issued by the Sultan prohibiting use of French flag-
431. In April 1901, Captain Cox suggested that tho Sultan might be
advised to issue a further notification, in continuation of his edict above referred
to (paragraph 408), to the effect that, from a da to to be fixed, none of his sub­
jects would be permitted to fly within his territories or in hi9 territorial waters
any foreign flag except with the written authority of tho 8ultan : and that any
one acting in contravention of this order would be liable to fine or other punish­
ment.