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(iv) Doings of M. Goguyer at Masqat. His proposed oxpulaion from Maakati
1899—1905.
661. M. Antoin Goguyor, a .French adventurer, has been most active
at Maskat and clsowhero in promoting
Secrot E , July 1899, No*. 37u*467.
French commercial «nd political interests.
IIo mado his appearanco at Maskat in 1899, and undertook with tho locul
merchants to push on and protect tho traffic in arms under tho sholter of tho
French flag, ilis conuoclion with tho arms traffic is dealt with in tho Arms
Trade Prdcis.
555. Ho began also to canvass for orders for French goods, which he
undertook to import direct from Europe.
Secret E., November 1900, No*. 21*23.
Captain Cox, liowover, saw no prospects
of the opening of a direct traffic of European goods between Europo and Maskat
as the small quantities of goods required for Oman could bo obtained more
cheaply by way of Bombay.
650. Anothor occupation M. Goguyer was engngodin was as a correspondent
Secret E„ Nororaber looo, Ko..«U7. to journals, especially the following
Secret E., October 1001, No*. 3-J3-398. La Vcpeclie Coloilialc.
Secret E., Mny I*i02, Nub. 6G-C3. Journal rlr/t Drha.tR
Secret K , October 1-JONos. 14, GO. J0U1 na1, aC8
Secret 3.. August 19o3. Nos. 163-1G3. Al Ahram of Cairo.
Secret E„ February UK'S, No*. 2&l*2i>8.
He sent the most garbled accounts of the British doings at Maskat and the
Persian Gulf aud made tho most scurrilous and venomous attacks on tho British
and tho Sultan of Maskat.
558. For some time he associated himself in intrigues with ono M.
Frederick von Karnatzki, a British
Secret E., Juno 1901, Nos 23*45.
subject born in London, wdio bad been
onco an agent of Messrs. Livingstone, Muir and Co. at Shiraz, but expelled
for embezzlement, and lived a fast and loose life with a Persian woman at
Maskat from about July 1900. M. Karnatzki was expellod by tlio Sultan from
Maskat in February 1901 and as the Political Agout declined to interfere, ho
had to leavo the place for Karachi.
659. M. Goguyer’s two iufluentiel allies among tho Arabs at Maskat and in
tho Gulf were Sheikh Abdulla-bin-Ali
8ecrct E., June 1902, No*. 6*8.
Kasim of Bunder Jissoh and Mahomed
Abdul Wahab of Dahrein, who acted as bis ageuts in his mercantile
transactions and advanced him loans.
660. In 1903 a disputo on their mutual claims arose between M. Goguyer
aud Abdulla-bin-Ali. It appears that in
Secret E„ October 1903, No*. 20*33.
1902 certain sums were due from
Abdulla-bin-Ali to M. Goguyer in connection with their joint transactions
in the sale of arms. Same delay having occurred in tho settlement of tho
account., M. Laronco addressed "the Sultan demanding the immediate pay­
ment of Rs. 0,000 aDd shortly after a Fronch ship of war arrived at Maskat
to support the claim, which, under the pressure thus brought to bear, was paid
in full. At a lator date, after an examination of the details of tho account,
M. Laronce directed M. Goguyer to make a refund of Rs. 7,600. M.
Goguyer’s appeal against this decision was rejected by tho High Court at
Bourbon ; but despite tho admittod justice of tho claim, the French Vice-
Consul subsequently informed Abdulla-bin-Ali that no action could be taken
towards enforcing the decree until payment bad been obtaiued of tho indemnity
of 1,500 dollars, which had been demanded from tho Sultan in connection with
the alleged attack at Sur on a dhow carrying tho French flag.
661. The Sur incident had been disposed of by the recent agreement to
refer to the Hague Tribunal tho whole question of the right and privileges
conferred by the possession of the French flag, and there appeared to the Gov­
ernment of India no reason why tho claim of Abdulla-bin-Ali should not bo
settled forthwith. It was found that the failure to adjust this claim had
led to the inability of Abdullah to pay certain debts duo by him to Messrs. Mal­
colm and Company, a British-protocted firm of merchants at Bushiro. The
Government of India therefore expressed hopo9 that Her Majesty’s Govern­
ment might now bo able to obtain early satisfaction of his just dues, aud to