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CHAPTER XXII.

Certain additional facts connected with the relations of the French
with the British and the Sultan of Maskat, 1901—1905.
(i) Discourteous couduot of the French Consul at Maskat on tho proclamation
day, 1901.*
518 In his loiter No. 30, dated 2G(h January 1901, Captain Cox, Political
Agent, Maskat, reported that ever since
Sterol 1?., March 1001, Noi. 62*53.
Bor Majesty was proclaimed Empress of
India, tho 1st January had boon celebrated iu Maskat as *• Qucou-Emprcss's
Day,"* as in India, in the following several ways :—
(a) The flagstaff at tho British Consulate was dressed, and tho detach­
ment of Native Infantry stationod in Maskat parade and fire a
feu dejoie.
(b) The Sultan with his suite paid an official visit to tho British
representative ; dressed tho flagstalfs on his forts; fired an
Imperial salute of 31 guns, and flew tho Union Jack above his
Saluting Battery throughout the day.
(c) Dor Majesty’s gun-boat in harbour “ dressed ship” and fired a
similar salute.
(cl) Deputations from the British Jndiau communities (Hindu and
Muhammadan), and tho principal well-disposed Arab subject
visited the British representative during the day to express senti­
ments of loyalty and respect for Her Majesty.
(<?) The British Consul usually gave a semi-official dinner-party to his
colleagues and the o(Doors of Her Majesty’s ship in harbour in
honour of the occasion.
Captain Cox was informed in December 1899 that Mnns. Ottavi habitually
absented himself on these occasions, but Captain Cox hopod that, as ho wa9 then
a new arrival in Maskat, ho might bo inclined to make a fresh start. However,
on that occasion, after accepting invitations to dine at this Consulate on
Christmas and New Year’s days, he left for Scob just before Christmas, and then
wrote in to say that he was too ill to return, ilia Consular flagstaff was not
dressed, and he remained away until the night of the 1st or morning of the 2nd
January, but returned in time to receive a New Year’s visit from tho Sultan
on the 2nd.
In 1900-01 he pursued exactly tho same tactics, evading invitations
to dine at this Consulate (though be readily accepted at any other time), and
refraining from dressing his flagstaff, but returning at nightfall on tho 1st, so
as to obtain the Sultan’s Now Year’s visit on tho 2nd.
The explanation of bis conduct was that Mons. Ottavi did not recognise
Her Majesty the Queen’s Imperial status in Maskat, and took upon himself to
give expression to this sentimeut in the studied manner described. He would
not in fact identify himself with any act, such as tho dressing of his flagstaff
or joining a somi-ollicial gathering of Englishman at this Consulate, which
could be ascribed to any recognition ou his part of “ Queen-Empress’s Day.’
At the same time ho took care not to let his own persoual or national dignity
suffer by arranging to get back soon enough after 1st January to qualify for
the usual Now Year’s visit from the Sultau. In a more civilised community,
which would assign to it its proper value, this narrow-minded attitude of the
French Consul, though it savoured of international discourtesy, might perhaps
be considered beneath specific notice and best ignored, but the position in
Maskat was a peculiar one. The public noticed that on tho Queen’s birthday,
Mons. Ottavi (intentionally or otherwise) was always away at Sur (though on
this occasion he used to have his flagstaff dressed) and that on the Queen-
Empress’s day lie pointedly absented himself for tho occasion anil allowed his
flagstaff to remain the only one “ undressed,** but yet returned immediately
after nightfall in order to receive the Sultan’s visit in tho morning. _______
*Cf, diicourtcoai conduct of tho Suliu on the Mine tUy «» paragraph* 39-1 -295.