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473. There tho matter rested until the Sultan's roturn in tho “Noor el-
Bahr ” for brief visit on urgent business connected with tbo troubles at JRostak.
This was on tbo 7th September. Tl.o Sultan however oxcusod himself on tbo
ground of a pressure of other more urgent work and having to loavo Maskac
again at once.
474. On Monday forenoon, tho 14tli September, two or three of the khalassis
of tho French Consulato pursued through tho bazaar one of tho two Suri
negroes in question, Aloosa, who was making for the British Consulate, and
ultimately caught him and led him olf to the French Consul. The other Suri
negro was found absent from tho Consulate, and arrested outside tho precincts
of the Consulato. As Major Cox was ou the point of leaving Maskat, he went
over to see M. Larouce, and asked him whethor the negroes had been arrested
by his ordors. Ho said, “ Yes; he had given the orders, and believed that ho
was within his right in arresting them, as both yesterday and to-day they had
been seen outside tho British Consulato.” Major Cox pointed out that in
view of tho amicable arrangement which they had coino to with regard to the
disposal of tho negroes, M. Laronco’s action was somewhat questionable from
the point of viow of a Couaular oolleaguo; and that, in the second place one
of the negroes, at all events, as soon as lie quitted the sanctuary of tho British
Consulate had become a subject of the Sultan of Maskat. M. Laronce repeated
that he was sure he was within his rights, and could not admit that he was
altering the status quo in any way, and that one negro bo bad already sent over
to the Sultan’s brother, with the request that he would give him a month’s
imprisonment for robbery, and recover the stolon money from him; after which
he did not care what became of him, and that Major Cox could free him if he
wished. He said ho regarded the other man, tho native of Carnoro, as a French
subject, and would keep him at bis own bouse.
476. On leaving M. Laronce, Major Cox learnt that tbo Sultan’s brother
and locum tenens, in the rough-and-ready mannor characteristic of him, had at
once sent the man to prison on the French Consul's requisition, without asking
who he was or what evidence there was against him, or making any other
inquiry. Major Cox left for the Batineh Coast a few minutes later, and fell
in with the Sultan at Mesnaa. On learning what had passed in regard to the
two negroes he was much annoyed at bis brother imprisoning the man without
inquiry, and expressed his intention of addressing tho French Consul about
it on his return. This was accordingly done.
47G. Immediately on receipt of the Sultan’s letter, M. Laronco sent a note
to His Highness saying that he would like to call on him in reply, and an inter­
view was accordingly granted that evening. His Highness informed Major
Cox that. M. Laronoe had expressed regret for the seizure of tho man, and
assured him that he meant no offence to His Highness. Ho continued that he
had taken the action because he had believed the two negroes to be robbers, but
bad since come to the conclusion that tho accusation was unfounded. Ho
therefore asked the Sultan to release the negro whom he had imprisoned in the
fort, and said that he also would set at liberty the other negro (the Comoro
man) whom ho had under detention at his own house. They were accordingly
both set at liberty, and his Highness acquiesced in tho manumission of the man
Moosa. The otlior man was at large also, and had possibly received a free paper
from M. Laronce.
477. The Foreign Office received in November 1903 Memorandum from
the French Ambassador complaining of the action of His Majesty’s Consul at
Maskat in the case of two negroes, members of the crew of a dhow flying the
French flag who took refuge in the British Consulate in September, claiming to
be fugitive slaves.
47 "’A. The French Memorandum states that the men were set at liberty by
the British Cousul on the 12th September notwithstanding the claim of the
French Consul, to exercise jurisdiction over them. The India Office sent to the
Foreign Office copies of Major Cox’s letter of 18th September and 16th
October 1903, and a further report of 2nd February 1903 : according lo Major
Cox’s report it is dear that what happened on 12th September was that the
negroes, having loft tho shelter of the British Consulate, were arrested and