File 619/1907 Pt 2 'Arms Traffic:- Muscat dhows. "Kadra" case.' [‎266r] (540/804)

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FOREIGN SECRET TELEGRAMS.
Secret Department.
From Viceroy, 5th October 1909.
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Foreign Secret. Hafun incident. Your telegram of the llth A.ua us t
Following telegram, dated 27th September, received from Political' Went'
Muscat:— >
Omar has sent through me a process to the Sultan summoning the
captains of two confiscated dhows—Tarak and Kadra—to appear on the
25th October before the Court of Inquiry at Assab. The Sultan replied on
my advice, that he is pleased to hear matter at issue will be inquired into
judicially, and ho hopes that result of this will be a complete vindication of
his subjects; regretting that he is unable to send the captains to Assab, and
and intimating that he has requested British Government to act for him in
the matter.”
Case has been referred to judicial authorities presumably under Italian
municipal law. Holland anticipates that dhows will certainly be condemned
As regards Italian note. Destruction of flags was reported simultaneously
to Consuls, Zanzibar and Muscat, and to Sultan, and was not denied by
Italians in first instance. Fact that rifle discovered was ten years old is
opposed to presumption that illegal traffic was intended. Evidence can
probably be procured to prove nakhoda’s statement that four rifles were
landed at Sur. Little importance attaches to written declaration signed bv
nakhoda under pressure when he wanted to get away. Decision to refuse
delivery of dhows appears to have been due to claim to compensation, as
Italians were originally ready to restore dhows. The statement that Aden
authorities were convinced of legality of seizure and recognised forbearance N
of Italian Government is incorrect—see Resident’s letter of the 24th July, f /2^[ 0 ^ '
copy forwarded with Secretary’s letter of the 19th August. But Acting ^
Resident did tell Consul-General that he had suggested to Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. ,
Muscat, to induce nakhoda to settle matter as desired by Consul-General,’
and asked him to delay submission of case pending Political Agent’s reply!
It is important that support given to Sultan in this case should not result in
establishment of Italian Consulate at Muscat.
We think decision of Italian tribunal should now be awaited, and that
Sultan should be warned that case may be prejudiced by non-attendance of >/ /
captains. Meanwhile, importance of loyal adherence of Sultan to^ffiotification L
°f 1903 and possible effect on Sheikhs of Sur (Holland’s letter of tl#14th (F>
August) may perhaps usefully be impressed on Italian Government, who
might be asked to issue orders to local authorities that any adverse decision
of tribunal should not be carried out pending result of negotiations between
two Governments.
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