"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٥‎٦‎٦] (١٧٨٢/٧٠٩)

566
junction with the commander of the " Infernet /' made strenuous efforts
to obtain the release of the prisoners in whom he was interested; but
the Sultan, assured of British support, remained inflexible.
At this point, in consequence of a vehement demand by the French
Ambassador in London for the release of the imprisoned Suris who were
claimed as French subjects, discussion became direct between the French
and British Governments and local negotiations at Masqat were sus
pended. On both sides the national honour was now seriously en^ao-ed
and deadlock was at one time feared; but ultimately a proposal that
the whole matter should be referred to the arbitration of the Ha^ue
Tribunal was made by Lord Lansdowne after consulting the Cabinet,
and, being accepted by the French, provided a convenient solution of
the difficulty. Incidentally it was arranged between the two Powers
that the prisoners in dispute should be liberated by the Sultan without
being handed over to the French local representative, and that the
" Infernet" should be removed. Accordingly the prisoners were
released on the 29th of May, and the " Naiad" and " Perseus"
left Masqat the next day, H.M.S. " Pomone " remaining until the
departure of the " Infernet " on the 3rd of June. The immediate result
of the^ liberation of the prisoners was necessarily prejudicial to the
Sultan's prestige, and for some time afterwards he continued to be
insulted by boats from Sur, which, after hoisting the tricolor, ran across
the bows of his new steamer the Nur-al-Bahr."
In Europe the proceedings continued in a manner somewhat more rapid
and decisive than hitherto. In March 1904, in the course of a general
arrangement of political difficulties then taking place between Britain
and France, a move was made by the French Government for the with
drawal of the J 0 man flag question from the Hague Tribunal and for its
immediate settlement on a basis highly favourable to themselves; but the
British Government did not consent, and the original arrangement was
maintained. On the 13th of October 1904 a Compromise or Agreement
or the reference of the dispute to the arbitration of the Hague Tribunal
was signe m London by Lord Lansdowne, British Minister for Foreign
Affairs and M. Paul Cambon, the French Ambassador: by this docu-
r th : P r iniSSUe Were defined aild tlie P roce ^ m ' e to be followed
of the^e' f^ eq \ entl ^ J0Ilkheer A -F. de Savornin Lohman, member
mint^ fl t r •' ^ general 0f hdland "y
was appointed arbitrator on
Supreme C T /n f"- MelVille W ^ Chief J -tice of the
OU1 0 e United States, on behalf of Great Britain, while