IOR/L/PS/10/26

The volume comprises telegrams, correspondence, notes, reports, and memoranda regarding the question of the settlement of the French flag dispute between the British and French governments following the award of the arbitration tribunal at The Hague on the question of the grant of the French flag to Muscat dhows.

The principal subject of discussion is the negotiations which took place at Muscat between the British and French Consuls to finalise and agree a list of dhow-owners who would continue to be permitted to carry French papers and fly the French flag under the arbitration award.

Also discussed in the volume is an attempt by the French Government to claim that Omanis in the service of French subjects should also be permitted to fly the French flag and the British Government’s dispute of this claim.

The volume concludes with the issuing of a proclamation by the Sultan of Muscat (Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd) regarding the settlement of the French flag question.

The principal correspondents in the volume are the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey); the Political Agent and Consul at Muscat (William George Grey, and William Henry Irvine Shakespear); the Viceroy of India (Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto); the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Percy Zachariah Cox); the French Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Paul Cambon); the French Consul at Muscat (Lucien-Ernest-Roger Laronce); and representatives of the Foreign Office and the India Office.

The volume is part 2 of 3. Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.