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'File 59/15 B (A 14) Muscat: slave trade under cover of French flag' [161r] (248/310)
The record is made up of 1 volume (163 folios). It was created in 2 Jan 1902-21 Mar 1904. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Acquisition of property in Maskat by foreigners.
I do not see that the notification as it stands contains anything to which
the .French could take objection, and I hope, therefore, that the Secretary of
State's concurrence will in due course be received.
•> -
a v.
No. 424, dated Maskat, the 21st September 1902.
From— Major P. Z. Cox, I.S.C., C.I.E., His Britannic Majesty^s Consul and
Political Ag -ent, Maskat,
To—The Right Hon'ble the Marquess op Lansdowne, K.G., P.C,, etc.. His
Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
I have the honour to submit copy of a notification which I issued in
Maskat on 13th instant with the concurrence of His Highness the Sultan, who
has promulgated a copy of it for the information of his own subjects.
2. I consulted the Government of India as to the general position in this
connection, but the notification has not been issued with their authority, as
there were urgent reasons for the issue of something of the sort without delay,
and the responsibility for the form of the notification is therefore my own.
I trust it will meet with Your Lordship's concurrence and approval.
The reasons for the issue of the notice are twofold :—
(1) The British Indian (Hindu Banya) traders of Maskat and other
ports of Oman, who are mostly usurers, have become a necessity
to the Arabs, but at the same time occupy in their eyes much
the same position as the Jew usurer does in Europe, and it is one
of the chief difficulties which British representatives in Oman
have to contend with, and is an increasing one.
In the course of their business these Banyas frequently advance
money to Arabs on the security of deeds hypothecating their
houses and landed property, situated sometimes at long distances
from the coast; and saying nothing about them at the time,
produce the deeds years afterwards with the complaint that the
mortgagor cannot redeem the property and claim their Consul's
interference, to put them in possession.
Not to interfere is to some extent damaging to British prestige; to
interfere is to sow a considerable amount of anti-British feeling
among the inhabitants of Oman which we can ill afford to do at
the present day.
The notification under report was devised primarily as a remedy to
the above state of things.
(II) The reason for its immediate urgency is a different one.
Most of the desirable building sites in Maskat belong to British Indian
subjects, many of whom are not too scrupulous. There is no doubt that
intrigues are now going on, with Monsieur Goguyer for their medium, for the
furtherance of Russian aims in Maskat. My French colleague told me con
fidentially only a few days ago that he knew the individual above mentioned to
be endeavouring to get made Consular Agent for Russia, and the Russian
Consul-General at Bushire has twice addressed letters to the Sultan in which
he expresses the hope of paying his respects to him at an early date.
The first thing they will need to do will be to effect the purchase of a
suitable building site, and it is very necessary that His Majesty's Consul
should be in a position to know what is going on in that direction as far as
possible, in view of the fact, before mentioned, that most of the desirable sites
are the property of British Indians.
3, The notification only applies to British subjects and, by reason of the
Sultan's publishing a copy of it, to Arab subjects; and I am not forgetful of
00118
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About this item
- Content
The volume comprises correspondence and other papers relating to competing British and French interests in Muscat and Oman at the beginning of the twentieth century. The principal point of contention between British officials, represented by Percy Cox (Muscat Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. 1899-1903), was the use of the French flag by Omani vessels, permitted by the French Vice-Consul to Muscat, and regarded by the British as being exploited by the region's slave traders as a means of avoiding interference by British ships.
Items of note include a letter from Cox to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. (Charles Kemball), dated 2 January 1902, discussing relations since 1891 between the Sultan of Muscat and British and French officials, the abuse of the French flag in the town, and the need for diplomatic negotiations between Britain, France and the Sultan to resolve the situation (folios 1F-37). Enclosed with Cox's letter is an eyewitness account (from a British Indian subject residing in Soor [Sur]) of slave trading activity in the town during 1901 (folios 31-35). The file also includes a letter from Cox to his French counterpart (Roger Laronce), dated February 1902, explaining that the Sultan protests at what he describes as the French Government's claims to exercise jurisdiction in Muscat territory over Omani subjects (folios 70-71), and Laronce's reply (folion 73); and a report of a tour of the Muscat coast aboard HMS "Amphritite" by Cox (folios 120-22) and Charles Windham, the "Amphritites's" captain (folios 147-49).
Reference is made in a number of pieces of correspondence to a confrontation between Arab slave traders and the Portuguese in Mozambique on 18 March 1902 (folios 117-118, and 140-141). In May 1903 Cox writes to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , informing him that he has received information from the British Vice-Consul at Mozambique, of around 100 inhabitants of Muscat and Sur being captured and killed in the confrontation (folios 178-180). Cox uses this incident to repeat his recommendation that a British Agent be installed at Sur (folios 145b-145d). Arrangements are also made to loan the Sultan of Muscat funds to enable him to buy his own steamer (folios 123-127), which Cox hopes will encourage the Sultan to take responsibility for his coast, and in particular Sur (folios 135-138). A blueprint of the steamer acquired for the Sultan is included in the file (foldout plan, folio 169).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (163 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers contained in the volume have been arranged in rough chronological order, from the earliest piece at the front of the volume to the latest at the end.
There are two indexes at the front of the volume. The first (found on folio 1A) includes a list of subjects with folio numbers. The second is titled an 'Index of references' (folios 1D-1E), and includes descriptions of correspondence with folio numbers.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The volume is foliated from the front cover to last page, using a combination of two numbering systems. The first foliation system uses blue or red pencil numbers in the top-right of recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. and top-left of verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. pages. This foliation system is the original foliation system, and is used in the references index pages (folios 1D-1E). This foliation is used on all pages with text, both recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. and verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. . The second, more recent foliation system uses circled pencil numbers in the top-right corner of recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. pages only, and is intended to fill the gaps left by the earlier foliation system. Foliation anomalies: 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 145A, 145B, 146C, 145D. Foldout item on folio 169.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/552
- Title
- 'File 59/15 B (A 14) Muscat: slave trade under cover of French flag'
- Pages
- front, back, spine , edge, head, tail, front-i, 1ar:1fv, 3r:3v, 5r:5v, 7r:7v, 9r:9v, 11r:11v, 13r:13v, 15r:15v, 17r:17v, 19r:19v, 21r:21v, 23r:23v, 25r:25v, 27r:27v, 29r:29v, 31r:31v, 33r:33v, 35r:36v, 38r:39v, 41r:41v, 43r:43v, 45r:45v, 47r:50v, 51v:54v, 56r:58v, 60r:60v, 61v:65v, 67r:70v, 72r:72v, 73v:78v, 80v:92v, 94r:103v, 105r:108v, 110r:110v, 112r:112v, 114r:114v, 116r:117v, 119r:120v, 122r:124v, 126r:126v, 128r:128v, 130r:130v, 132r:132v, 134r:135v, 137r:137v, 139r:139v, 142r:142v, 144r:144v, 145ar:145bv, 145dr:145dv, 146r:147v, 149r:150v, 152r:157v, 159r:186v, 188r:191v, i-r:i-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence