'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎52r] (108/228)

battalions of infantry and two guns to the
frontier, where they have occupied a series of
positions, and have constructed guard-houses or
made use of old forts. According to agreement
any differences arising between the Govern
ments of Persia and Turkey in regard to any
particular locality when marking out the
boundary line, which was to be within the
limits traced on the map, should be referred to
the decision of the Governments of England
and Russia. Sir N. O’Conor does not think
that any useful purpose would be gained by
his interference in the question at its present
stage. I he Persian Government have asked
that telegraphic instructions may be sent to
His Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople
to assist the Per ian Ambassador in settling
the difficulty with the Turkish Government
{vide paragraph 9 of the Memorandum for
November).
10. According to an announcement in
the “ Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Herald ” the Haifa section of the
Hedjaz Railway has been completed, and the
inauguration will take place on the anniver
sary of the Sultan’s birthday {vide para
graph 9 of the Memorandum for August).
11. The appointment of Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to the
Sherifate of Mecca, in place of Emir-Am-ur-
Rafik, deceased, has now been confirmed
{vide paragraph 8 of the Memorandum for
September).
PERSIAN GHEE.
12. Maskat.—{Vide paragraph 11 of the
Memorandum for November 1905.) In connec
tion with the Maskat dhows case the Political
Agent telegraphed that the French Consul
agreed with him that the Proclamation setting
out the terms of the Award should be issued by
the Sultan, but that the following views were
held by the French Government:—(1) That
the authorisation to fly the French flag was
granted for ali the dhows owned by the holder,
this opinion being based on the wording of
clause 2 of the Award, and on the fact that the
Brussels Convention had not been signed before
the authorised persons had received authorisa
tion. (2) That a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. flying the French flag
preserved its inviolability while in Omani
ports. (3) That in the event of quarrels between
the members of the ships’ companies at sea,
the French Consul should be referred to for
decision. These matters must be settled before
the notification could be published. Major
Grey considered that the French Government
adopted this course to retrieve their credit, as
they admitted that the authorisation lapsed
with the death of the holder. He added that
he gathered that the French Government
might agree to a British Protectorate over
Oman, if their face w^ere saved by the accept
ance of their view of point 1. The discussions