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241. On the 25th May the Government of India informed the Resident
Secret E., Jane 1891. Noi. 186-201, vide No. 109. Porsian Gulf, that a report had been
No. It Oi-E,, ri.ted Simla, 23th Moj 1891, from made to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State
For.ign D.p.rimcol, to Rc.ideut, Pcr.Iao Golf.
for ludia and requested early communi­
cation of further information on the subject.
242. On the 11th June tho Political Agent forwarded the copy of a letter
Becrot e« 8optcn>bor 1801, No.. 14-24, vide which ilis Highness Sayyid Pnisal pro.
No. 16. posed to address tho President of tho
French Republic regarding tho granting of flags by tho representatives of that
nation to llis Highness’ subjects, and also tho copy of a lettor from Llis Rich­
ness, soliciting tho advico of the Government of India as to what actionhe
could safely take to uphold his jurisdiction iu his own wators ovor such of his
subjects as had obtained French flags.
The Political Agent wrote :—
" His High less remarked that it they and their boats can be covered by the Frenoh flag
in his territorial waters, tho French flag may somo day be held to cover their houses and pro-
party oo land. ”
248. In a letter of the same date tho Political Agent reported that eight of
the principal Sheikhs of the Joneboh of Sur had stated to him that they had
got their French papers from the French Consul at Adou and not from Obokh,
and that they had paid a fee of Rs. 40 for each paper.
Secret E, September 1891, Noe, 14-24* vide No. 243-A. On the 11th August 189 the
22. Foreign Secretary wrote to the Resident
No 1007-E, dated Simla, 11th Augoit 1891,
from Foreign Department, to Reoident, i’eraian Qulf. as follows :—
“ I am directed to say that tho use of the French flag by subjects of the Suttan of Mashat
can have no ejject as against His Highness. He has full authority to punish auy of his
subjects who may infringe tho laws of his country, whatever flag or papers they inav have
accepted, aod ho may safely take any stops ho pleases to uphold his jurisdiction in his own
wators over such of his subjeots as have got French flags.
The matter will be reported to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for the information
of Her Majesty’s Government who have already been addressed. In the meantime it seems
undesirable that the Sultan should send a protest- direct to the French Government, but
Colonel Mookler should not prohibit him from doing 60. Our action in the matter should be
* confined to advice. ”
244. His Highness tho Sultan accepted the advice given him not to address
the Frenoh Government on the subject.
i
245. On the 2nd November the Political Resident reported that two Sur
Secret E., December 1891, Not. 80.35, vide No. boats under French colours, and said to
88. have on board 25 to 30 slaves each, had
passed Bushire. While recent information was to the effect that as many as
50 suoh boats with slaves on board were bound for the same port.. Eighteen
dhows of Sur under French colours had put in to Lingali and several native
boats flying tho same flag deposited their papers with the French Consular
Agent at Basrah. But nothing had been ascertained either by the British
Consul at Basrah or the Vice-Consul at Muhammerah regarding the alleged
traffic iu slaves. This letter concluded the correspondence on the subject for
1891.
240. These facts referred to in paragraphs 239—44 were duly brought to
the notice of the Seoretary of State in Despatches Nos. 92 (Secret—External),
dated 9th June 1891, and 147 (Secret—External), dated 24th August 1891,
and on the former despatch the opinion was expressed that the action of the
French Consul at Aden (not to speak of the Frenoh Consul at Obokh and
Madagascar, the allegations against whom had to be verified) amounted to
an assertion of French protection over Oman. From tho Secretary of State a
reply (Secret Despatch No. 441, dated 4th December 1891) it appearod that
the French Government had repudiated the action of tho French Consul at
Aden granting the papers in question and had given assurance that it would
not be repeated.
247. The alleged practice was also ascertained to exist at Obokh and
Madagascar and was duly brought to the notice of the Secretary of State
[Despatches Nos. 46, 06 and 98-Extornal, dated the 23rd March, 4th May
and jth Juno 1891],