Page:The Blight of Insubordination.djvu/98

90 As this is a most unique and exceptional method of dealing with crews in port we felt interested in the matter. It was our first acquaintance with the old Egyptian port; the exceptional and differential treatment of the British seamen was sufficient excuse for anyone interested to make enquiries. We called at the British Consulate for the purpose, and had a short interview with Mr. E. B. Gould, the Consul-General for Egypt, and learned, as expected, that the order emanated from that establishment; that it was the revival of an old rule of the Port, and that it had been resuscitated at the instance of the Consul-General in response to frequent and urgent requests of the Masters of the British ships that frequented the port, to put a stop to the "come and go as you please style" that obtains whenever a vessel gets tied up to a quay or a wharf; not merely in that port, but any other, and which makes one of the usual terms of agreement common on the articles of British vessels, "no liberty granted abroad other than at the pleasure of the master," quite a farce. This salutary regulation has, we are informed, effected a considerable improvement in general discipline on the British ships in the port, as exemplified in the lesser work at the Consulate. Shipmasters are requested, even if it subjects them to a little personal inconvenience occasionally, to recognise and support the movement that has been adopted entirely in the interests of discipline on British ships.

The permit is simply a coloured card provided by the manager of the Sailors' Home. It carries the name of the vessel, the name of the bearer, and is signed by the master. Without one of these, no person passes the gates during the time specified.

Regarding the footnote of the notice to the effect that "The greatest possible care must be taken not to stop the exit of sailors of other nationalities," it appears that the altered conditions are so much appreciated that other foreign consuls are expected shortly to adopt and institute simular instructions to the authorities regarding the vessels they are concerned with, France being highly probable as the first to act in following suit, from which it would appear as though trouble with crews in port is not confined to the British ships only.

A measure has become law in France, in virtue of which the Minister of Marine is empowered to grant diplomas of honour and silver medals to seamen who have followed their avocations for twenty-five years, provided that they enjoy civil and political rights, and that their good service has been recognised. The men to receive this mark of distinction will