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in tho service of a Frenchman ora nativo of Comoro, nor could a Suri have title
to fly a French flag under Articlo XXXII of tho Brussels Act, under which tho
flag-holder should eithor be a Fronch subject or French protected person, which
a Suri, a subject of tho Sultan of Maskat, could not bo (sco Mr. Cave’s letters
to tho French Consul, dated 15th September and 16th September 1902).

(x) Fronch Flag incidents at Sur and Maskat.
Proposed reference to tho Hague Conference, 1903-1904.

46*1. In April 1903, tho French flag question entered an acute stage, when
to avoid inter-tribal difficulties that had
Secret E., May 1004, Nos. 76-121.
arisen between Abdullah-bin-Salern, the
Sheikh and some of his tribesmen, ono of the tribesmen, Mubarak-bin-
Hamed, tried to flee from Sur in a dhow of bis son, flying tho French flag,
and one of Sheikh Abdullah’s men fired at the dhow and the shot passed through
tho French flag. A complaint was thereupon lodged by Mubarak against the
8heikh before the Fronch Consul, who demanded compensation for the deten­
tion of the vessel. The Sultan refused tho demand peremptorily.
465. In tho same month a French flag-holder belonging to 8nr, who had
arrived at Maskat and who was subject to quarantine broke quarantine himself
s«r#t e., September ico3, Nci. 2;o.383 (No. and after abducting two followers from
286). the quarantine station absconded. At tho
Sultan's desire Major Cox arranged with the Commander of the Perseus to send
a 6team-cutter in pursuit of men, who were eventually arrested, tried and
imprisoned The French Consul demauded tho release of the men, but the
demand was refused.
466. The matter was then taken up in London by tho French Ambassador.
After discussion in tho Cabinet, Lord
Ibid, No. 342.
Lansdowno proposed a reference to the
Hague Tribunal on tlie general question of the privileges conferred by the
French flag and papers, and added that, if tho proposal were accepted, His
Majesty’s Government would advise the Sultan to release the prisoners of his
own accord. On the 26th May, tho Secretary of State telegraphed that tho French
Government had formally accepted Lord Lansdowue’s proposals. His Majesty’s
Government had undertaken to advise the Sultan to release tho threo prisoners,
while the French Government had agreed to refer forthwith to tho Hague
Tribunal the question of their right to give flags to tho subjects of the Sultan,
and of the nature and extent of tho privileges and immunities w'hich the grant
of such flags can confer, and futhermore, pending tho decision of the Tribunal
to furnish a list of thoso who held French flags, and to grant no more. The
terms arrauged were communicated to the Sultan, who released tho three
prisoners and sent them bock to Sur, informing the French Vice-Consul of bis
action.
467. Ou the 29th July, in reply to enquiries mado by tho Sultan, the
Secretary of State telegraphed that Major
Ibid, No. 362.
Cox might inform His Highness that
the arrangements for (he submission of tho French flog question to the
Tribunal had made some progress, and that the question of privileges
enjoyed by the Frcpch flag-holders would be argued before tho Tribunal "by
tlie British Government on behalf of the Sultan, but that His Majesty's Gov­
ernment w'ould welcome tlie assistance of any person whom tho Sultan
might depute to supply information and offer suggestions.
468. On tho 17th September, tho Secretary of State was informed that
tho Sultan had no desire to depute a
a*ci«l K, 1304, Nos. 76-121.
No. 147. representative from Maskat to tako part
S«uret E , dute.l 17tli September 1903. in the proceedings of tho Tribunal, but
Ibid, No. 88.
preferred to leavo his interests in tho
hands of His Majesty’s Government.
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