Page 67 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

61
does thore npponr to be nny authoritative prohibition of suoh grants; and I am to add that tho
question of regulating such grunts by tho introduction of a oluuso in tho ponding Merchant
Shipping Bill will be tab on iuto consideration. Moantimo thovo doos not seem to bo any
objeotion to tho grout of such permission in tho caso of vessols owned by subjeots of Native
Stnto to which tho privileges of a British ship havo been, or may horcaftor bo, granted uuder
tho provisions of tho Act above mentioned.
Thcro is no objection to the proposed alteration of the Kutch flog; but it should be
pointed out to tho Durbar that tho benefits of tho General Act oan only bo claimed by vessels
which not only aro authorised to lly tho British flag, but also comply strictly with tho
provisions of tho Act, and that tho suggested modifications of those provisions arc consequently
inadmissible.
235. A form of license to carry tile British flag was sanctioned in Foreign
Department No. 148 L-E., dated 9th
8ecrct E . March 1893. Nci. 217-246 (No. 212).
August 1892, to satisfy tho conditions of
Article XXXII of the Aot.
(iv) The procedure adopted by the French in granting French Flags in recent years.
236. Tho procedure adopted in caso of Suri dhows in recent years in
Mr. Cox*. Rorort No. 313, dmed i8ti> Juno 1900. obtaining tlio French Flag is this. The
Secret. E-, September 19u0, Nos. 6—6i3 (No. 41). Captain of a dhow—he may be owner or
he may not—during one of his annual voyages with a cargo of dates to the
littoral of the lied Sea or the Indian Ocean on presenting himself at one of the
French Consulates on those waters, e.g., Obok, Jibuti, Madagascar, Zanzibar or
Camaro Islands, is granted a paper called “ Titre do navigatiou ” and a French
Flag on the following conditions:—
(i) be must buy a house or land in a French Colony, or
(ii) he must furnish a suitable personal security in tho person of a local
French protected resident, who has been in possession of a French
Flag for some time previously and has doue nothing to disgrace
it;
(iii) tho grant should be renewed every year. The applicant as a rule
prefers tho personal security, which can easily be Becured for
nothing.
237. The whole procedure appears to be regulated in order to suit the con­
ditions of artioles XXX—XXXIII of the Brussels Act quoted above.
# 238. In renewing the grants, it happens frequently that tho vessel passes
from one owner or captain to a new one, who has come in possession of it by
purchase, death of previous owner or captain, or otherwise, so that it has been
impossible for the Sultan to say from one year to another, which of his Suri sub­
jects would or would not claim French protection if occasion arose.
(v) Slave trade by Oman vessols flying the French Flag, 1891—1898.
239. On the 8th March tho Political Agent, Maskat, asked for instructions
as to what course of action he should
8ccr*l E, Jons 1891, No*. 185-201, vide No. 190.
advise tho Sultan of Maskat to take with
regard to boats belonging to and manned by H is Highness1 subjects of Suri and
other places on the coast of Oman, carrying the French flag and provided with
French papers.
The Political Agent wrote
“ The only object suoh boats can have in carrying tho French flag and papers mu6t be
to cover unlawful traffic, viz., slaves.”
On the 14th March the Political Agent forwarded a nominal roll, furnished
by His Highness Sayyid Faisal, of thir­
Secret E., Jan* 1891, No*. 165-201, ride No. 191.
teen masters (Nakhuda) of Sur boats
that carried French colours and papers. His Highness, however, stated at the
time that thore wore probably more.
210. On 6th April the Political Agent
Secret E„ Jane 1891, No*. 185-201, vidt No. 190.
again wrote:—
“ I have just been informed that during the past year most of the Sur boats havo ob­
tained French Bags not as formorly from Madagascar but from the French authorities at
Obokh * * , and that the Nakhudas were told to go thero by the French Consul at
Aden.”