File 619/1907 Pt 3 'Arms Traffic:- Koweit Trade.' [‎8v] (21/720)

No. C.-I 4 , dated the 15th April 19M.
From—L ieutenant-Colonel W. G. Grey, LA., 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. , ’
To Major S. G. Knox, C.I.E., Officiating Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian
Gulf, Bushire.
1 have the honour to reply to your endorsement No 1023,
ammunition.
2 I would first observe that no case for such resumption appears to have
been Established either from the events reported in Papf -m ^th y^ur
endorsement or from the contents of the fntelhpce Officers dtaries to which
reference is made by His Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chiet. 1 he
names of the Bum and the Nakhuda are not given by the Intelligence Officer,
and the most that could be proved against the Nakhuda appears to be that he
attempted to sell two rifles from among those that he is permitted to carry for
the protection of his vessel and her crew, which although an offence and one
which would doubtless be punishable by the Shaikh were the case brought
before him, scarcely amounts to a definite instance of smuggling arms or a
contravention of Sir Mubarak’s undertakings with His Majesty s ^Government.
In regard to the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. detained by H. M. S. “ Dartmouth ”, the circumstances
in which she was considered to have been suspicious are not fully stated and
they were apparently not sufficiently convincing to enable the Senior Naval
DfiRrpr i-n authorise a systematic search on that occasion.
3 . H. M. S. “ Fox” called at this port on 29th ultimo, and I discussed the
Intelligence Officer’s reports with the Senior Naval Officer. He informed me that
he hacf no further information in this connection either from the Intelligence Officer
or from any other source, and we agreed that it would be sufficient to bring to the
notice of the Shaikh that there was reason to suspect that Kuwait dhows were still
concerned in this illicit traffic. I did so, and His Excellency^assiired me that
he had given most stringent orders that nothing more of this kind was to be
attempted by his subjects. He suggested that in cases of suspicion, which must
of necessity now be of rare occurrence, the Captain of His Majesty’s ship should
either place some person on board the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. to remain there until she arrives in
Kuwait as had formerly been proposed, or that the Captain should inform 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. , Kuwait, at once so that the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. might be watched for and
inspected immediately on arrival by one of the Shaikh’s trusted officials accom
panied by a representative of this office. His Excellency went on to say that
whatever might have been the case formerly he wished us to understand clearly
that he was now working hand in hand with His Majesty’s Government in every
thing and hoped that we would take him at his word.
4. Referring to Sir Percy Cox’s telegram to His Excellency the Naval
Commander-in-Chief, No. 149, dated 7th June 1912, it may be remarked that
the majority of the reasons given by him for considering that the alienation of
the Shaikh and his community would be particularly undesirable still hold good,
and they are strengthened by the addition of our proposed water scheme and
the approaching ratification of the Anglo-Turkish agreement in regard to Kuwait.
It would obviously be deplorable should the reintroduction of the measure which
of all others would tend to produce such alienation synchronise with the event
last named.
5. At the same time I do not mean to suggest that any relaxation of
vigilance on my part or on that of any one else concerned is to be recommended.
I am making continual enquiries in regard to the import and export of arms and
ammunition but so far am convinced that with the possible exception of the
export of two or three rifles and a small amount of ammunition at rare intervals
nothing is at present taking place.
6. In all the circumstances I am of opinion that it would be better to make
no change at present in the direction under reference.