Inclosure No. 9. Nominal Roll of Thirteen Nakhodas of Sür Boats, carrying French Colours and Papers, furnished by His Highness the Sultan of Muscat. Bushire, April 14, 1891. IN continuation of my letter dated the 6th April, 1891, regarding the use of French papers by Oman boats, I have the honour to forward copy of a further report by the Political Agent, Muscat, to the effect that these appear now to be granted chiefly at Obokh, near Aden, not at Madagascar. Further particulars will be submitted hereafter. Inclosure No. 11. Colonel Mockler to Colonel Ross. Muscat, April 6, 1891. IN continuation of my former Reports on the same subject, I have now the honour to report that I have just been informed that, during the past year, most of the Sür boats have obtained French flags, not, as formerly, from Madagascar, but from the French authorities at Obokh, opposite to Aden, on the African coast, and that the Nakhodas were told to go there by the French Consul at Aden. Inclosure No. 12. The Government of Bombay to the Government of India. Bombay Castle, April 20, 1891. IN continuation of my letter dated the 9th instant, I am directed to forward, for the information of the Government of India, the accompanying copy of a further letter from the Political Resident at Aden, dated the 1st April, 1891, on the subject of the issue by the French Consul at Aden to certain native craft of French papers and the French flag. Inclosure No. 13. Brigadier-General Jopp to the Government of Bombay. Aden Residency, April 1, 1891. IN continuation of my letter dated the 15th ultimo, I have the honour to report that another instance has since come to my notice of an armed Süri vessel obtaining French papers and the flag. 2. In the course of conversation with the First Assistant Resident on this subject, the French Consul said that he had no objection to show his authority for his action in a British harbour. A day or two afterwards he said, however, that he found he could not show his authority, as it was contained in Confidential Circulars from the French Foreign Office. 3. On the occasion of the first conversation he had been informed that Süris are a dangerous class to whom to give such protection, as they might abuse it. On the second occasion he said he had found this to be the case, and that, if a single instance of misconduct as to slaves or raids on the part of Süris could be brought to his notice, he would stop granting the flag and protection. I report this as it appears to me to show that the French Consul has now doubts, to say the least, of the legality or propriety of his action. APPENDIX No. 8. M. le Ministre, Mr. Egerton to M. Ribot. Paris, July 23, 1891. I HAVE the honour to acquaint your Excellency that Her Majesty's Indian Government have received information to the effect that French Consular officers and officials appear of late to have frequently given French papers and the French flag to native vessels belonging to Sür and other places in Oman. Thus, according to the reports which reached India, there were at one time thirteen Sür boats at Muscat carrying French colours and papers which were said to have been granted by the French authorities at Obokh. But it is more especially to officially attested cases at Aden that I have now the honour to draw your Excellency's attention. In a letter of the 15th March last, the Political Resident at Aden transmitted a deposition made by the commander of one of several Sir vessels to whom French papers were given, which deposition was accompanied by copies of the French papers, and was to the effect that the French Acting Consul at Aden, M. Labousciri, had granted to him and the masters of three other Arab craft the right of hoisting the French flag. On the 1st April the Resident reported another instance of an armed Süri vessel obtaining French papers and a flag at Aden. Your Excellency will certainly learn with surprise that a French Consular officer at a British port should thus have been giving the French flag to vessels belonging to the territory of the Sultan of Muscat; and I cannot permit myself to doubt that your Excellency will cause instructions to be sent to Aden which will put a stop to the repetition of such proceedings on the part of the Consular Agent. I have, &c. M. l'Ambassadeur, Paris, le 20 Novembre, 1891. CONFORMÉMENT au désir exprimé par M. le Ministre d'Angleterre à Paris dans sa lettre du 23 Juillet dernier, mon Département avait fait procéder à une enquête au sujet de la délivrance, par le Vice-Consulat de France à Aden, de papiers de bord Français à plusieurs patrons de boutres armés à Sur (côte d'Oman) et appartenant à des sujets de l'Iman de Mascate. Il résulte des renseignements qui viennent de me parvenir à ce sujet, que le Gérant du ViceConsulat de France à Aden a cru effectivement pouvoir accorder, dans le courant de la présente année, à huit des patrons dont il s'agit, des permis de navigation sous pavillon Français, valable pour un an, et dont le premier expirera le 18 Décembre prochain. La délivrance des permis en question a été le résultat d'une erreur, et je ne manquerai pas de prendre les mesures nécessaires afin d'en prévenir le renouvellement. APPENDIX No. 9. Agréez, &c. (Signé) RIBOT. Sir. No. 1. India Office to Foreign Office.—(Received May 25.) India Office, May 24, 1892. I AM desired by Viscount Cross to forward herewith, for the information of the Marquess of Salisbury, copy of correspondence which has been received from the Government of India relative to the grant of French papers and flags to five large buggalows at Obokh. The information collected by Her Majesty's Consul on the Somali Coast on this subject goes to show that these vessels are engaged in the Slave Trade. I am, &c. (Secret.) My Lord, Inclosure 1 in No. 1. The Government of India to Viscount Cross. Simla, May 4, 1892. IN continuation of our despatch of the 23rd March, 1892, we have the honour to forward, for your Lordship's information, a copy of a letter received from the Government of Bombay, dated the 2nd April, 1892, together with its inclosures, on the subject of the grant of French papers and flags to certain buggalows at Obokh. We have, (Signed) &c. LANSDOWNE. P. P. HUTCHINS. A. E. MILLER. H. BRACKENBURY.“ C. H. T. CROSTHWAITE. Inclosure 2 in No. 1. The Government of Bombay to the Government of India. Bombay Castle, April 2, 1892. REVERTING to the correspondence ending with Lieutenant Archer's Confidential letter dated the 5th January last, I am directed to forward, for the information of the Government of India, the accompanying copy of a Memorandum from the Political Resident, Aden, dated the 21st ultimo,* regarding the grant of French papers and flags to certain buggalows at Obokh. My Lord, No. 2. The Marquess of Salisbury to the Marquess of Dufferin. Foreign Office, June 4, 1892. I TRANSMIT herewith, for your Excellency's information, copy of correspondence with the Government of India,† which has been communicated by the India Office, relative to the grant of French papers and flags to five large buggalows at Obokh. From the information collected by Her Majesty's Consul on the Somali Coast, who had an opportunity of inspecting the vessel's papers, it appears that these were issued by the Governor of Obokh for the current year to one Haj Dida, a French-protected subject domiciled at Obokh, as representative of the owners; that the latter, however, and the crews were in fact Süris, and that the buggalows had nothing whatever to do with Obokh or with any other French possession, but had merely gone thither for the purpose of obtaining the French flag; that the vessels were all heavily armed with cannon, muskets, swords, and other weapons, and that in all cases the crews were so large as to be quite out of proportion to the requirements of ordinary traders. All these circumstances seem to point unmistakeably to the vessels being engaged in slaving operations. I should, therefore, wish your Excellency to communicate the facts to the French Government, and to urge them to cause a searching inquiry to be made into the matter. No. 3. I am, &c. My Lord, The Marquess of Dufferin to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received June 15.) Paris, June 14, 1892. I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that I have addressed a note to the French Government in the terms of your Lordship's despatch of the 4th instant, relative to the grant of French papers and flags to five buggalows at Obokh. I have, &c. (Signed) DUFFERIN AND AVA. * See Appendix No. 12. † Inclosures 1 and 2 in No. 1, and Appendix No. 12. Sir, No. 4. India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received July 6.) India Office, July 5, 1892. IN continuation of my letter of the 24th May last, I am directed by Viscount Cross to forward herewith, for the information of the Marquess of Salisbury, copy of a letter from the Government of India, with inclosures, relating to the alleged grant of French flags and papers to subjects of His Highness the Sultan of Muscat. 2. It is asserted that the Muscat boat-owners are encouraged to acquire the status of French subjects by purchasing, at a fixed price of 200 dollars, house property at Obokh. Tam, &c. (Signed) HORACE WALPOLE. Inclosure 1 in No. 4. The Government of India to Viscount Cross. (Secret.) My Lord, Simla, June 7, 1892. IN continuation of our despatch of the 4th May last, we have the honour to forward, for your Lordship's information, a copy of a communication relating to the alleged grant of French flags and papers to subjects of His Highness the Sultan of Muscat. We have, &c. (Signed) LANSDOWNE. P. P. HUTCHINS. A. E. MILLER. H. BRACKENBURY. C. H. T. CROSTHWAITE. (Confidential.) Inclosure 2 in No. 4. Lieutenant-Colonel Talbot to the Government of India. Bushire, April 26, 1892. WITH reference to the correspondence ending with your Confidential indorsement, dated the 23rd January last, regarding the use of French flags by subjects of the Sultan of Muscat, I have the honour to forward, for the information of Government, copy of a letter on the subject, with inclosures, from the officer in charge of the Political Agency, Muscat. 2. These papers show that French flags and papers are now, apparently, granted to His Highness' subjects on a new system which requires them, first, to become house-owners at Obokh; and that the instructions given by the French Government to the Consul at Aden are thus evaded. 3. Dr. Jayakar will be instructed to ask the Sultan to have further inquiries made to test the correctness of the information submitted to him by his Wali at Sür. Inclosure 3 in No. 4. Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Jayakar to Lieutenant-Colonel Talbot. Muscat, April 17, 1892. WITH reference to the correspondence on the subject of the grant of French flags and papers to native vessels of Sür, in the territory of the Sultan of Muscat, ending with this Office letter of the 18th September, 1891, I have the honour to forward herewith, for your information, copies, with translation, of two letters which His Highness the Sultan has now received from his Wali at Sür. 2. If the information now received by His Highness the Sultan is correct, it is evident that an attempt is being made to naturalize as French subjects such subjects of His Highness as are desirous of carrying on the Slave Trade with impunity under the protection of a French flag. 3. The Sultan informed me some time ago that the French flag of a Süri buggalow was taken back by the French Consul at Aden, but, as His Highness did not seem sure of the information, it was not reported to you at the time; this news is, however, now confirmed by what the Wali of Sür writes in his letter of the 29th Shaaban, 1309 (March 29, 1892). [1413] K Inclosure 4 in No. 4. Translated purport of a letter from Muhammad-bin-Ahmed-bin-Nasir, Wali of Sür, to His Highness (After compliments.) FOUR vessels have arrived here from Al-Yaman-one belonging to Muhammad-bin-Abdullahbin-Sultan, the second to Abdullah-bin-Saleh-bin-Juweid, the third to the sons of Muhammad-binHamad-bin-Shameh, and one belonging to Saeed-bin-Muhummad-bin-Bilal; and it is evident that they touched at Obokh with the intention of obtaining protection over lives and property. The French Consul there has given them flags for the protection of their lives and property on the agreement between him and them that they should become (French) subjects, and on the condition that they should build houses in Obokh and live there, so that it may be known to Christians (Europeans) that they are (French) subjects, and that they have (landed) property in Obokh. They therefore took houses and lived there in order to obtain protection over their lives and property. Since then the boat belonging to Musallam-bin-Hamad, son of Al-Katheeree, has proceeded to Obokh with the intention of obtaining protection. This is the state of affairs with the Janebeh, and I have written about it that you may become aware of it. The buggalow of Muhammad-bin-Mubarak, in which is his son, has now arrived after obtaining the signature of the } French Consul at Bombay on the original (French) certificate. Inclosure 5 in No. 4. Translated purport of 2nd letter from Muhammad-bin-Ahmed-bin-Nasir, Wali of Sür, to His Highness (After compliments.) I HAVE to inform you that three buggalows have arrived from Al-Yaman, one belonging to Saeed-bin-Muhammad-bin-Bilal, the second to Muhammad-bin-Abdullah-bin-Sultan, and the third to Abdullah-bih-Saleh-bin-Juweid. When they entered Aden, Bin-Juweid had the last year's flag; the French (Consul) took it from him, and told them, "It you desire to have flags, go to Obokh." When they left Al-Yaman, they touched at Obokh and asked for flags of the Consul there, who told them that they could not have them, unless each one of them had a house of his own. Thereupon they agreed upon the price of each house to be 200 dollars, which they paid, and took from him the flags. APPENDIX No. 10. Muhammad-bin-Mubarak-bin-Salim to Sultan of Muscat. (After compliments.) You have mentioned O Saiyid that we have sold a piece of land; we are unable to do so; the country is yours. I am your slave, and I have heard no mention of this. There is no foundation for this (report). Two years ago, when I heard that you were annoyed about the French flags, I ordered them (the Nakhodas) to cancel their certificates and them (to the French); my brother, Rashid, accordingly returned his. We are under the protection of God and yourself, and our refuge is to Him and to you. This (I say) with God to witness. |