'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎168r] (340/386)

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Saad, a French protege, and a buggalow Large trading vessel. belonging to a British Indian trader,
the matter was represented to the British Consul by M. Ottavi, who sent the
complainant to the British Consul. Major Fagan finding that Salim-bin-Saad
was a native of Sur, and that the collision occurred in Maskat territorial waters,
informed M. Ottavi that, in view of the question pending between Her
Majesty’s Government and the French Republic regarding the right of France
to exercise jurisdiction within the Sultan’s dominions over subjects of His
Highness who bad obtained the right to fly the French flag, he “ only accepted
M. Ottavi’s claim on b<dialf of Salim bin-Saad, on the understanding that such
acceptance should not be considered to prejudice the question at issue between
the two Governments’*. No exception was taken to Major Fagan’s action at
the time : but when the question was referred to the Government of India again
in the following year, a stronger line was adopted, and Captain Cox was informed
that, should the French Consul again claim jurisdiction in any similar case, his
claim should not be even provisionally admitted, but should be contested in each
case.
21st October 1901.
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No. 184 (Secret—External), dated Simla, the 9th October 1902.
From The Government of India in the Foreign Department,
To—The Right Hon’ble Loud George F. Hamilton, His Majesty’s Secretary of
State for India
With reference to the correspondence ending with the Viceroy’s Secret
telegram, dated the 25th March 1902, regarding the u>e of the French flag by
subjects of the Sultan of Maskat, we have the honour to forward a copy ot the
papers, as noted in the enclosed list.
2 We would invite special attention to the letter from our Political
Agent at Masliat, No 395, dated the 12th September 1902, in which Major Cox
emphasises the importance of the recent capture of Omani dhows by the
Portuguese as affording an opportunity for again addressing the Prench Govern-
ment in the matter: and we would suggest, for the consideration of Uis
Maiostv’s Government, that the French liovernment might now be invited
tolurnlsh an authentic list of the Omani subjects who are entitled to posses
French flags and papers, and to state, for the'information of th ‘ ® ta ’ ,,
grounds on which each flag has been given, and the iiature and extent of the
rights and privileges which they claim ior their proteges.
We would also strongly recommend that, in view of the assurance given
v s j by the French Ambassador to the Marquess
• vide the letter from the Foreign office to Mr. Lansdowne in February last,* a strong
Berber, No. 73, dated the 26th Februa,, WO- ° ^ be a?ainst the
issue of new papers to the Sultan’s subjects, as reported in Major Cox s letter
No. 420, dated the 20th September 1902. #
3. In his letter No. 395, dated the ISth September 1902, to which we
have already adverted, Major Cox has again suggested the de " lra ¥ 1 | J n ° f
inf a British Agent at Sur. We shall await an expression of opinion from our
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. on this proposal, vlnch we are not, as at
present advised, prepared to recommend to ^ our -‘ Hr j 'Pj , ■ .1 e ’
te think it desirable to invite attention to the new developments m the case,
as indicated in the enclosed papers, in the hope that His ‘ p „ h
will now he enabled to come to a satisfactory understanding witl the irenclr
Government on this question, which so closely concerns the maintenance ot
our influence with the Sultan of Maskat.
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Telegram, dated tlie 21st May 1903.
From—His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, London,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy, Simla.
Maskat Lord Lansdowne had conversation on the 18th with Cambon
in which Gambon, who* had come straight from Paris, demanded, on behalf of