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fold U is Excollcncy that tho rumour was entirely unfounded and that the Foreign
Office, at all events, knew of no foundation for tho story (Marquess 'of
Lansdowno to Sir E. Mention, dated 4lh March 1903).
(iii) Attitudo of Won. Dorville, French Vice-Consul at Maskat, towards the
Political Agent iu connection with certain complaints preferred by
British subject against a peon of tho French Consulate, 1903. J
552. With his lottor No. 333, datod 14th duly 190:1, Major Cox, Political
Agent at Maskat, forwarded copies of
Secr«t E., October 1903, Nob. 3-G.
correspondence wliioli had passed between
himself and tho French Vice-Consul in connection with certain complaints pre­
ferred by two British subjects against a cavass or peon in his employ.
In tho caso of Mons. Dorvillo’s predecessors in office tho British and
French Consuls had always been ablo to dispose of such petty eases as those
uuder reference by means of demi-official communication either verbal or
written ; and in that way casos had been settled promptly and sat isfactorily.
Mons. Dorville preferred to correspond officially, and to that course though
there wore no reasonable grounds for taking exception, yet he had, in otLo* ways,
shown a tendency to bo both obstructive and discourteous in bis attitude, and
to bo disinclined to do justico to complaints of British subjects which had
boen referred to him.
Tho claim of Kalyanji Govindji against his peon for 40 dollars was, in
accordance with previous usage, sent over to Mons. Dorville with a polite note
on 15th April for favour of inquiry and disposal. For one reason and another
its disposal was delayed until 1st July when, after three weeks’ silence, Mons.
Dorville wrote to Major Cox dcmi-officially late in tho evening saying that he
would decide the case at 10 A.M. next day and asking him to send over com­
plainant, his witnesses, and an interpreter. It was very short notice to give
as tho two witnesses were subjects of the Local Goverumcnt, to whom he had
to apply, hut ho managed to collect them at the Consulate at 9 a.m., so as to
make sure of their being in time. fVhen the interpreter started to take them
across to the French Consulate, one of the wituesses had disappeared to get a
drink of water and made the party five or six minutes late. Major Cox, how ever,
wrote a private note to Mons. Dorville and therein apologised for this delay at
the time. He, however, sent tho parties away without a hearing, and, in the
evening, in spite of the note of apology, scut Major Cox an official communi­
cation to the effect that the parties not having appeared up to time he had struck
the caso off the hie.
In the morning Major Cox walked over to see Mons. Dorville with his
letter in his pocket and said that, in view of the private note apologising for the
delay, he was much surprised to receive it, and that in any case it was difficult
for him to accept it as a just solution of the case. At first Mons. Dorvillo said he
could not reconsider the matter, but Major Cox replied in as friendly a way ns he
could that if it was not to remain with Mr. Dorville, lie should have to reply to it
or take other action on it, and that it seemed to him a great pity that, while their
countrymen were feting their respective rulers at home, they bore in Maskat
should allow differences to come between them regarding petty matters liko this,
which might easily be arranged in amicable conversation. After some further
excuses he finally consented to take his official lotter back aud said ho would
hear the caso again in a week’s time. Before the week was up, however, he
•wrote to inform Major Cox that the cavass had beon discharged from the employ
of his Consulate and might be proceeded with through the Suliau.
Setting aside any discourtesy which his action seemed to involve, the
Political Agent asked for the views of Government of India as to whether the
principle which his colleague suggested was one that could be properly
accepted.
653. The Government of India were of opinion that as the cavass had
since beon dismissed by Mr. Dorville the complainants bad their remedy m
the local courts nothing would be gained by entering into a further discussion
with the French Consul either on the subject of tho particular case or on that
of any principle involved by his action (No. 1765-E., dated 4th August 1903).