'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎23v] (51/228)

to argue that the Sultan, by saj ing he
not permit his subjects to accept French flags
in future, meant to imply that he had permitte
them in the past. To meet this contention
the Government of India were of opinion
that the line of argument should be as
follows. Whichever notification be accepted,
and whatever the exact translation of the Arabic
text of it, both were, from their wording, clearly
prospective in effect. But no inference about
the past could be deduced from this, because, at
the time when the notifications were issued,
the Sultan had just previously wiped out the
past by receiving from the Suris an agreement
resigning their French flags and was entitled
to hold that at the moment no French flag-
holders remained, since all had ostensibly
resigned their claims to protection from the
French. The text of the original notification
asked for by the Secretary of State has been
sent home, along with a mass of documentary
evidence in support of our contention.
On receipt of copies of the British
and French counter-cases, Majors Cox and
Grey telegraphed on the 24th and 25th May,
offering certain comments on the French case.
Their statements have been repeated to the
Secretary of State with the endorsement of the
Government of India.
(Vide paragraph 14 of Memorandum for
April 1905.) The King of Italy has, it is
understood, selected Professor Lammasch of
Vienna as Umpire.
20. Musandim. —The Secretary of State
telegraphed i5th May) that, in the British
counter-case presented to the Hague Tribunal,
the following statement was recorded as to the
limits of Maskat territory: —The coast from
Kalba to Dibba is claimed by Shargah, and
has been regarded for many years as a feuda
tory of the Sheikh, and as subject to the
maritime truce. This territory has never
been under the sovereignty of Maskat. The
coast from Dibba to Tibba is claimed by
the Sultan of Maskat, who has certainly
before and since 1862, exercised authority by
his Wali and otherwise, and the Sultan’s rights
there are recognised by the Sheikhs of Shargah
and Joasim. Therefore, under these circum
stances, Musandim being admitted to be Maskat
territory, the views of the Government of
India were asked for as to the policy to be
pursued as regards the flagstaffs erected on
Telegraph Island and also on Sheep Island
and the Maklab Isthmus. An answer was sent
(11th May) that before replying the Govern
ment of India would await the receipt of the
despatch on the subject which they had been
promised by the Secretary of State (viue para-
gragh 15 of Memorandum for April). 1
21. Koweit and Nejd.—lt is reported
that the Sheikh of Koweit has been approached