'Arms traffic (outside Persian Gulf)'

Content

This file concerns arms traffic outside of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Specifically, the document discusses what it refers to as the 'spasmodic' illicit traffic of arms (as opposed to 'systematic' traffic) which has been carried out by masters of dhows carrying other merchandise. Most of the file is concerned with the traffic of arms from Jibuti [Djibouti] – which is referred to as ' the distributing centre [original italics]' for the arms trade outside of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. – to ports in the Gulf of Aden.

The document provides a brief history (from a British perspective) of traffic from Jibuti in the years since the signing of the Brussels Convention in 1890. It summarises, and provides references to, letters and despatches from a number of British authorities, which discuss various issues relating to the arms trade out of Jibuti, including: the extent to which traffic at Jibuti has been regulated; the possible threat that the traffic poses to the Aden garrison; the effects of measures taken by the French to curtail the traffic from Jibuti; other possible ports of supply, such as Zanzibar, Muscat and the Aden Protectorate ports.

Also discussed are the attitudes of the maritime chiefs to the arms traffic, the various preventive measures available to the Resident at Aden for dealing with the effects of the traffic at Aden, an account of measures taken both by the British Somaliland authorities and by the Italian authorities, and an evaluation of the naval measures taken by the British since 1901. The file concludes by noting that one possible solution to the problem could be the deployment of armed dhows, a measure which previously has been advocated by the naval authorities, the Viceroy and the Resident at Aden.

The document is attributed to P H D [P H Dumbell, Reading Clerk to the Council, India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ].

Extent and format

1 file (10 folios)

Arrangement

The file consists of a single document which retains its original order, as evidenced by an original pagination sequence.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/PS/18/D171

History of this record

Date(s)

10 Mar 1904 (CE, Gregorian)

Related material

Select Bibliography

The India List and India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. List for 1905 (London: Harrison and Sons, 1905), p 1.

Subjects

Arms controlArms trafficDhows

Places

JibutiGulf of AdenAdenBritish Somaliland

People & organisations

Secretary of State for India, United KingdomViceroy and Governor-General of India in CouncilPolitical Resident, Aden

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Cite this record in your research

'Arms traffic (outside Persian Gulf)', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/D171, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000833.0x000311> [accessed 23 April 2024]

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