Page 114 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

08

468. On tbo 3rd August, Major Oox. in view of the probable delay in the
settlement of the Crunch flag questiou,
Major Coi’a No 37*. dated 3rd Aogoat 1903.
enquired whethor, ponding a final deci­
sion of the Tribunal and in the event of an unavoidable occasion arising, the
Sultan need dilfercntiate between French flag-holders and other subjects. ' Ho
presumed that tbero was no need for differentiation, and the Government of
India agreed in this, but the matter was referred to the Secretary of State, -who
replied that, ponding arbitration, action on the part of the Sultan, which
would tond to prejudice tho question of the privileges of the flag-holders
would bo most undesirable, and asked that Major Cox might he instructed in
tho case contemplated to uso his influence to restrain the Sultan from taking
1L{d No 86> any precipitato action and to rofor tho
matter for orders (telegram dated 3rd
September 1903).

469. From a despatch from Major Cox, dated Maskat, 18th September
1903, it appears that, whereas Mesnaa, where the Sultan had for some time
past been anchored in his steamer, is altogether out of tbo way for vessels
sailing from Maskat to Basrah ; nevertheless, during the fortnight past every
French dhow from Sur, after calling at Maskat according to custom, bad-sailed
for Basrah via Mesnaa, and on approaching tbo “ •Noor-cl-Bahr” had run
up the French flag and sailed past right under tho bows of tho latter, with
no other possible purpose than to defy and annoy tbo Sultan. Moreovor, when
His Majesty’s ship “ Sphinx ” was anchored close by, those that passed even
took tho trouble to steer between her and tho “ Noor-el-Bahr.” Major Cox
himself saw about fifteen of these French dhows while there, and the Sultan
positively declared that, during the whole period of his sojourn at Mesnaa, not
less than fifty of thorn had passed him in this way, whereas tho French do not
admit more than thirty-three. It is hardly to be wondered at that Sayyid
Faisal should have been intensely annoyed at the defiance of these people and
at his own impotence to take any action against them, aud he did not attempt
to conceal his fcolings.
470. On 5th September 1903, on his return to Maskat after a few days’
absence on the Batineh coast, Major Cox
Extract of Despatch from Major Cox, dated
AJo'kat, September 18th, 1903. received an informal communication from
^Proccoding* No. 18, Seeroi E, Muy 19°J,Nob. 76- ]yj[# LarOUCC about tWO nCgl’OCS who
had taken refuge in the British Con­
sulate over whom the French Council claimed to exercise jurisdiction, being
members of a crew flying the French flag. They both claimed to be slaves,
stating that they had escaped from their dhow at Mattra in broad daylight, and
had come straight to the Consulate with nothing on them or with them but
their loin-cloths and smocks, and that the accusation of theft made against
them was without any foundation, or possibility of foundation, and was merely
the invariable allegation of a master from whom a slave has absconded.
471. As the relations between Major Cox and M. Laronce bad always
been most friendly, be thought that tho best thing, under the circumstances,
would be for him to go and talk the matter over with him personally, instead
of entering into awkward correspondence with him on the subject. This he
accordingly did.
472. lie told him that, on getting his note, ho had ascertained that the
men were actually at the Consulate, that they both claimed to be slaves, and
bad given an approximately identical account of the cause and means of their
escape, and altogether denied the alleged theft und the possibility of its having
taken place. That the only and the proper course to be pursued was that be
should, on the Sultan’s return, send them over to him according to invariable
customs, either for acquiescence in their freedom, or for the production of
adequate evidence to prove that they were not slaves, or were not entitled
to freedom, that M. Laronce could then send such evidence as he had to the
8ultun, and that if the Sultan, in pursuance of that evidence, could give him
adequate reasons for not granting thorn freedom, lie would refuse thorn manumis­
sion pipers.