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On tho other hand, they noticed that on tho French National day the British
Consul, and sometimes a British man-of-war, dressed their Hags for tho occasion,
and that tho former invariably paid tho French Consul a complimentary, visit.
Tho interpretation placed upon this contract of attitudo by tho'ignorant native,
to whoso undosirablo comment Alons. Ottavi recently mado such pointed
reference in connection with tho question of his own salute, was not that the
latter’s action was a form of discourtesy which wo did not trouble to take notico
of, or reciprocate, but that it must surely bo evidenco of tho power and
independence of tho nation whoso representative could afford thus habitually to
Blight Her Majesty or tho British Government year after year. Some such
impression existed and Alons. Ottnvi might, it was feared by Captain Cox,
bo expected to make tho most of it.
Tho Political Agent enquired, therefore, whether the Government of
India considered that wo bad sudicient locus standi to invito Foreign Consuls
formally on tho Queen-Empress’s day, as was done on tho Queen’s birthday, to
44 dress ” their flngstaffs for the occasion, and failing that, whether steps should
bo taken to inform the Sultan, who had himself spontaneously commented to
him upon Alons. Ottavi’s attitude, that under tho circumstances it would he
considered a friondly act on his part if he were to intimato to tho French
Consul that ho would bo unablo to pay him a New Year’s visit in future
unless he could make it convenient to receive him on New Year’s morning,
as do the other Consuls.
It must be mentioned that the American Consul dressed his flagstaff on
1st January ; not specially in honour of the Queen-Ismpress, but because New
Year’s day is an American holiday and because tho Sultan visited him on that
day.
649. The Government of India, in submitting Captain Cox’s report to the
Secretary of State, observed (Despatch No. 30, Secret E., dated 2ist February
1901)
“ Wo would suggest that the French Consul’s behaviour should he brought to the notice
of lfi9 Afajesty’s Secretar) of State lor Foreign Affairs. We desire to add that reluctant, as
we should be to return oue act of discourtesy by another, yet, in a country where such a
inequality in official etiquette as has been introduced by the French Consul is liable to serious
misunderstanding by the inhabitants, we shall have no alternative should Alons. Ottavi persist
iu his uncivil conduct, but to instruct our Political Agent to refrain from extendiug to him
the compliments that have always hitherto gladly been accorded upon tho Freuch National
day.”
650. Lord Lansdowno did not think that tho British Consul could pro­
perly address a formal invitation to the
Socret E., July 1901, Nob. 15G-15S.
Consuls of other Powers to dress their flag-
staffs on the occasion in question. His Lordship, on the other hand, saw no
reason why tho French Consul should rceeivo invitations to tho British Consulate
on that date. It would bo bettor to treat the occasion as one iu which the Sultan
and population of Maskat and the British Consulate and community are
interested, hut in which the French Consul is not coucerned. As regards the
celebration of the day which tho King might for tho future designate as the
national festival, Lord Lansdowne thought that Captain Cox might be authorized
to tako the French Consul’s conduct on this occasion as tlie standard for his
own observance of the French national day, provided always that in so doing he
avoids auy appearance of resontment or disrespect to France. Lord Lansdowne
deprecated tho matter being a subject of discussion between Captain Cox and
tho Sultan (Secretary of State's despatch No. 14-Secret, dated 14th June 1901).
(ii) Excitement caused in France by the rumour that England was about to
annex Maskat, 1903.
661. In March 1903 it was announced in the French Press that Mons.
Delode, Deputy of Cochin China, would
Scorn E., May 1903, Noa. 35.30.
shortly interpellate Mons. Dolcasse in the
Chamber of Deputies concerning a rumour that England was about to annex
Maskat (Sir E. Monsonto Marquess of Lansdowne, dated 11th March 1903).
Tho French Ambassador in London also told Lord Lansdowne that some excite­
ment had been caused in France by the appearance in some of tho English papers
of a report that Great Britain was about to annex Maskat. Lord Lansdowno
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