'Muscat Dhows Arbitration. In the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague. Grant of the French Flag to Muscat Dhows. The case on behalf of the Government of His Britannic Majesty.' [‎51r] (112/208)

III.—AEAB SHIPPING.
His Majesty's Government have no quarrel
with the definition of " boutre " given at p. 9 of
the Erench Case, but venture to refer the Tribunal
to the definition given in Article XXXI of the
"Brussels Act:—
" La qualification de batiment indigene s'applique aux
navires qui remplissent- une des deux conditions sui-
vantes:—
"1. Presenter les signes ext^rieurs d'une construction
ou d'un greement indigene;
" 2. litre months par un Equipage dont lie capitaine et
la majorite des matelots soient originaires d'un des pays
baignes par les eaux de FOc^an Indien, de la Mer Eouge,
ou du Golfe Persique."
The Omani dhows in question in this Case
all fall within both of the conditions indicated
by the Article. These vessels, as stated in the
Erench Case, are largely concerned in oversea
trade in the Indian Ocean, and this trade has
been carried on for many centuries, probably
long before a European vessel visited these seas.
But their owners have also from time im
memorial been largely concerned in the Slave
Trade, which is far more profitable than ordinary
and legitimate commerce.
The inhabitants of Siir have had for many
years an unenviable but well-earned reputation
as the most notorious slave traders in the Indian
Ocean, and so lately as 1902 the Portuguese
Government captured over 100 of them in
Mozambique, with their vessels, and with slaves
ready for shipment.
Great Britain has never had any occasion to
protest against or interfere with any form of
lawful trade, for the policy of Great Britain for
generations has been to encourage free trade in all
seas and ports, and it is to a very great extent due
to her efforts that piracy and slave trading have
been reduced to a minimum in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
and Gulf of Oman, and that the trade in these
seas has been opened to the lawful commerce of
all nations.
It is common ground that numerous Arab