Coll 30/111 'British Naval Stations in: Establishments at Khor Quwai and Bahrain. Evacuation of Henjam and Basidu.' [‎549r] (1104/1154)

^asaBogsaosn
EBB&SSBSaESaBBHBOKP
in course of preparation, it was decidprl ,
with the Government of India, that exception , atter consnltation
”" M * tsw t" "i ^JS&igzsur**
ownership of H.M. Government in that tenitorv 0 'n°T!i e8ta Wi 8 hed in the
after coneultat.cn with 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. l-Wt t ? e l G T mme “ t of
probably be that the necessary landino- o-romids^hn la’t* the best solmion would
the expenses of equipment ^.d mainte.Crt^t P H 0 M^„ by ^ ^
or a regular rent for their use beinu charop.l 17 Government, fees
beinn hoisted, and defence arrangements so far as no ^'hl^l’^ Briti ® h flag not
the Muscat authorities, in return, if necessary, for'so.ne'^nciaTcLsibmiom' ^
Ihe Bunder Gisseh Incident of 1899.
. ° Tant t0 Fra,,ce h the Svllan of a Coaling Station.
o). e history of the Bunder Gisseh incident of 181)9 is as follows In the
early part of 1899 a French war vessel visiting Muscat (at which as stated n
paragraph 16 above, France was then represented by a Vice-Consul)’ seen,edtom
the bultau of Muscat an undertaking to grant a coaling station to the French
Government. Ihe terms of the agreement, which was dated 7th March 1898
were as follows : Be it known to all that we have given to the French Government
a p ace ioi coal on the coast at a distance from dwelling houses where it would not
hurt them, outside Muscat, a piece of land about the size of a godown in one of the
coves dependent on Muscat as a mark of favour and respect to the great French
Government on account of the friendship and concord.” It will lie seen that this
agreement, which is in quite general terms and does not specify the location of the
coal depot, makes no reference to fortifications or to the flying of a flag.
Cancellation of the Grant consequent on pressure from H.M. Government.
31. On the news that this concession had been granted becoming public
property, the Sultan was at once called on for an explanation of his action in granting
a coal depot to the French in violation of his Agreement with Great Britain of 1891
(paragraph 11 above). His Highness replied that he had merely given the French,
as a sign of friendship, coaling facilities similar to those already enjoyed by
H.M. Government (see paragraphs 39-40 below) and declined to communicate the
text of the concession.
G. of I. tel.
449 S„
31.1.29,
P. 1022/29.
I.O. lr. to
G. of I.,
25.4.29,
P. 2556/29.
Gr. of 1. tel.
to S. of S.,
22.6.29,
P. 4270/29
Pol. Res. to
G. of I., T. 8,
18.2.99.
Gr. Of I.
Desp. 39,
2.3.99,
P. 345/99.
see paragrapns ou-nu ueiow; »uu uwiin^u bu eumuiujjiudLc mo
on. Strong further pressure was brought to hear on the Sultan.
10th February 1899 he informed the French Vice-Consul that he was being
res S ed by 14 3M ti-r%vr£>r*riirioinf' tr» withdraw tliA errant) as heinfi’ a violation of the
Government to withdraw the grant as being a violation of the
agreement of 1891. The Consul, in writing, entirely declined to recognise that
greement, as being in contravention of the Declaration of 1862, and stated that
hould any difficulties arise between the Sultan and H.VI Government I wj
ave them removed in accordance with the Ireaty of 1862. n ' ^ e ruaiy
le Sultan cancelled the concession. On the 15th February, facei will an
Itimatum, coupled with a threat of bombardment failing a pu i ic ^ llce a 10l G
rote to the French Vice-Consul that he could no longer \J ef (
M. Government, and he enclosed a copy of the Agreemen o * ( ) ; , ^ ,
■formation. The Vice-Consul, in a written reply, intimated that !)« had atady
iade it clear that he could not recognise the Agreement o 1891 which was m
mtravention of the Declaration of ISbz!, am , a 16 a„ 17 th February the
uicellation of the grant which the Sultan had Ga c , X r J
ultan announced his cancellation of the concession m c p
Discussions between Lord Salisbury and M. Gambon. ^
32. In the meantime, however, discussions hU talien^place ^ betweeu
ar 6 88 beamig on tbe
instruction of the declaration of 1362 to men quotation
struction of the declaration of 18b* o me informed the Ambassador at To Paris,
33. On the 15th February 1899 . Lor r d n ^f S fpoken to him "about the ft*.
is that the French Ambassador in Londo j^P _ _ He said he had no
used acquisition by 4 ranee of a ai ^ thought it better to mention it at
actions to speak to me about i , 1 thinv that had happened was t a
.to avoid any misapprehensiom Ihe ships ot war and for them
French Government, wanting