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'P. 1 733/1904. Muscat Arbitration. (1904-08).' [197r] (400/778)
The record is made up of 1 volume (385 folios). It was created in 1903-1906. It was written in English. 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.
25
Note on the list of Maskat subjects whom the French claim to protect, as fur
nished with the French Case.
It is three years ago since this list was promised by M. Gambon and
neither I nor my successor Major Grey have ceased to remind Government
or the vital importance to us of its possession before we proceeded with this
case before the Hague Tribunal. Had we had a copy of it a few months ago
our statement could have been much more complete. As it is, a list has
been furnished with the French Statement, but in such a sketchy form that
it is practically useless for purposes of verification.
In this connection the Sultan has addressed me a letter this day expressing
his own views with regard to it, with which I fully concur. I submit the
letter in case it may^ be of use in enabling us to press for a list in the only
form which will he entirely satisfactory.
It appears to me, judging from the records here and from personal know
ledge that the French have decided that they will lose nothing by credit
ing individuals with more dhows than they really possess and with much
more numerous crews than they really employ. According to their figure
they claim to protect 1,050 adult persons in Soor. Now the total population
of Soor, women and children included, is on about 10,000, and of those not
more than two-fifths would be adult males, so that the French claim to protect
at least a quarter of the population.
The Sultan’s reference to the three dead men on the list requires no com
ment. Compare Monsieur Laronce’s action in the recent Debai case where he
lodged a claim in behalf of a man who had been dead two years.
It is also interesting to note that one of the dead men mentioned in the at
tached letter from the Sultan, namely, Salim bin Mahomed-el-Badi (or Libadi)
No. 22 in French list, was the subject of report by my predecessor Major
Fagan in 1897. I attach a copy of the letter referred to and suggest that it
might be made use of, as it shows the lax principles on which the French
enroll their proteges. I suggest to that we should without fail make the most
of the inclusion by the French of these three dead men, in our present state
ment to go in on 1st May. If we do not the French will find out their mistake
and deprive us of the chance of scoring a point over it.
In connection with this list I beg to report that Major Grey on getting
a copy of it gave it to the Sultan with the request that he would take steps to
have the names identified. His Highness addressed me on this subject in
the letter which forms the first enclosure to this note, but he had previously
sent down a trusted representative to Soor with instructions to collect what
information he could get with regard to the names on the list. His retainer
who left here about a week ago for Soor has replied to the Sultan this evening
that the French protege refused to give him any information or have any
intercourse with him whatever and referred him to the French Consul.
Added to this the French Consul has just been asking the Sultan for a
boat to take him down to Soor. From this it would appear that the French
intend to prime the proteges thoroughly as to what to say and to refuse to
communicate with the Sultan or his representative except through the French
Consul and thus frustrate any satisfactory inquiry into the status of the
proteges. These considerations prompt me to urge very strongly the impor
tance of getting in the list in a proper form, however much the French may
endeavour to evade giving it.
P. Z. COX, Major,
March 2Ut 1905.
Copy of a letter addressed 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.
in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
by
Mis Highness the Sultan of Maskat, dated lAth Muharrum 1322, {21st
March 1905).
After compliments.-}—1. have the honour to make a reference to you
regarding the 30 persons from among my subjects whom the French Govern
ment claim to protect, together with their dhows and the crews thereof,
C?
About this item
- Content
The volume discusses a dispute between the British and French Government’s over the use of French flags on Muscat dhows and individuals dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. owners from Muscat claiming to be protégés of France owing to their vessels being registered as French.
The two governments agreed in October 1904 for the dispute to be taken to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, and the award, which was approved by the British Government in September 1905, was concluded primarily in favour of the British Government’s position. The complete award in English and French can be found at folios 135-141.The papers include reports and discussions on other matters linked to the arbitration case including the limits of Oman territory; the question of ownership of Gwadar; and the legal status and nationality of the Khoja peoples residing within Muscat and Oman. The principal correspondents in the volume include the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne); the Secretary of State for India (William St John Fremantle Brodrick, 1st Earl of Middleton); the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department (Louis William Dane); the Viceroy of India (George Nathaniel Curxon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston); the 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. and Consul at Muscat (William George Grey); the French Consul at Muscat (Lucien-Ernest-Roger Laronce); the French Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Paul Cambon); and representatives of the Foreign Office and the 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. .
The volume is part 1 of 3. Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (385 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The subject 733 (Muscat Arbitration) consists of 3 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/25-27. The volumes are divided into 6 parts with parts 1 and 2 comprising one volume each, and parts 4, 5, and 6, comprising the third volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 386; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Condition: The spine has become detached from the volume and has been placed in a polyester sleeve at the back of the volume as folio 395. The sleeve may result in some loss of sharpness in the digitised image.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/25
- Title
- 'P. 1 733/1904. Muscat Arbitration. (1904-08).'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:9v, 10br:10bv, 10r:13v, 15r:28v, 30r:32r, 34r:41v, 42v:106v, 115r:121v, 135r:135v, 142r:163v, 165r:167r, 168r:170v, 172r:172v, 173v, 175r:194r, 195r:206v, 207v:218v, 220v:232r, 233r:240v, 243r:247v, 249r:298v, 301r:310r, 311r:312v, 314r:323v, 324v, 326r:327v, 333r:349v, 352r:359v, 367r:368v, 375r:376v, 383r:385v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence