'Arms traffic (outside Persian Gulf)' [‎4v] (8/20)

8
arms into Jibuti. “ Every steamer leaving Mar-
“ seilles for Jibuti has some on board, discarded
“ French rifles or weapons of Belgian make.”
See also India Letter No. §3 (Secret),
dated 21 st April as to traffic at
Jibuti (Pol. 86 <) j 01 ,).
As regards the other ports of supply, what was Ports of Supply other than Jibuti,
said by Consul Cordeaux in November 1901 seems
still to be applicable :—“ However many channels
“ there may be, they all start from Jibuti, and
“ until the fountain head is closed, it will he
“ difficult to check the flow to any appreciable
“ extent.” Before referring to the “ channels ”
alluded to (which from the Somaliland point of
view are to be reckoned among “ ports of supply,”)
mention may be made of two sources said to be
independent of Jibuti.
•
Zanzibar fell under suspicion on the strength of
information given by deserters from the Mullah.
The authorities there, though observing all vigilance,
were unable to obtain confirmation of the report,
which they suggested had been spread in order to
impress the Mullah’s followers with the extent of
his influence and the ubiquity of his agents.
Zanzibar.
Pol. 2$71j03.
Muscat .—As far hack as 1892 apprehensions had
been expressed that arms from Muscat might find
their way back to the Benadir and Somali coasts ;
and in 1899 representations on the subject from
the Italian Consul-General at Zanzibar were
referred to the Government of India, who replied
that there was ground for believing that the Italian
fears were not altogether unfounded. Export from
Muscat at Sur, where there was very little demand
for arms, was then said to be not only permitted
hut encouraged by the Sultan The Government
of India hoped to enlist the Sultan’s assistance
in checking the traffic both within and without
the Gulf.
The 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. at Muscat, in a report on
this subject, of 29th January 1900 observes “ it is
“ certain that there is no organised traffic from
“ Muscat southwards,” and suggests the following
explanation : — To the uninitiated “ Suri ” and
“ Maskati ” as applied to Arab dhows are
synonymous; but the owners of Suri dhows
are only in name subjects of the Sultan of Muscat;
on the other hand they often fly the French flag,
and are welcome guests at Jibuti, where many of
them own plots of ground. At Sur they take on
board as cargo dates, from Oman and from Basra,
for conveyance to East Africa; after disposing of
these dates they invest the proceeds in arms at
Jibuti, and ship them to the Benadir and Somali
coasts. In view of the conditions of trade as
described above, and taking into account the
variations of the monsoon, it suited the Suri dhows
better to get their arms at Jibuti, (where there
was then a free market) than from Muscat itself,
and Captain Cox did not think, from the informa
tion he possessed, that Muscat arms were sent down
to Sur.
Muscat.
Pol. 2025 / 99 .
Pol. IO 47 / 99 .
Pol. 600 / 01 .
See also Pol. 1 J!, 6 la/ 02 .