File 619/1907 Pt 3 'Arms Traffic:- Koweit Trade.' [‎15r] (34/720)

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Sheikh Mubarak to Resident, dated 7th Nov
ember 1912.
Resident to Sheikh Mubarak, No. 252, dated
15th November 19i2.
Sheikh Mubarak to Resident, dated 12th De
cember 1912.
Resident to Sheikh Mubarak, No. 309, dated
31st December 1912.
No. 14, dated Bushire, the 4th (received 15th) January 1913 [Confidential).
From-LmiT.-CoL. Sir Percy Cox, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., 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.
reman Gulf,
T°—The Hobble Lieut.-Col. Sir Henry McMahon, G.C.Y.O., K.C.I.E C S I
Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department. ’ ’
With reference to the correspondence ending with my letter No. 2895,
dated 3rd November, I have the honour
to enclose, for the information of the Gov
ernment of India, copies of the marginally
cited correspondence which has since
passed between Sheikh Mubarak and my
self, with regard to his desire that the
• „ i. o i i i , rifles which he has received permission to
import from Maskat should be granted immunity from the warehouse mark.
2. It will be seen that the Sheikh returns to the attack pertinaciously.
mPTir ^©ostensible reason which he now gives for pressing his request is that, as
new patterns of rifles appear, his dependents like to get rid of their old ones
but tins is one which can only weigh with us as an additional ground
r^^i al vTr nS - CaptailL Shake spear thinks the real reason
•?! ^ u mrak cannot, as may be expected, guarantee that no
weapon will ever go astray, however good his intentions may he/ and fears
tiiat snould this happen he would be held personally responsible and have his
personal good faith placed under suspicion.
3. It might he possible to humour him and still serve our own purpose by
agreeing to his purchasing direct from England from an approved firm and bv
our then arranging with the firm in question for the stamping of the weapons
With a secret mark which would he known to us hut not apparent to the
uninitiated ; hut I think Sheikh Mubarak will in all probability bow to a reply
from Government to the effect that they cannot regard his dependent’s obiec-
tions as valid and that as the permit for import was given on the definite under
standing that the arms would be supplied hearing the Maskat warehouse mark,
ey cannot see their way to agree to any other arrangement, and I recommend
that such an answer be given.
4. ^ As to his further request for an annual permit for 6,000 weapons, in
my opinion it would be greatly in excess of his legitimate requirements, and the
existence of a demand for ^ so many annually would seem to presuppose the
existence of a habit for their irregular disposal ; hut in reply to his present
letter I would he inclined either to ignore this request, or reply that his require
ments would be considered as they arose. I venture to request the favour of a
telegraphic reply.
Translation of a letter dated 26th Zilqaadeh 1330 (— 7th November 1912)
from Sheikh Sir Mubarak es Subah, K.C.IE., Ruler of Koweit to
Ueutenant-Qolonel Sir Rercy Cox, K.Q.I.E., C.S.L, 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.
m the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
After Compliments—1 represented to your honour before this as
regards the arms sanctioned for us by the exalted Government owing to our
pressing need for them, viz., firstly two thousand five hundred, and then
three thousand five hundred, to complete six thousand, according to our ,
request. When Your Honour visited our port in the month of Hajab 1330,
(== June-July), I represented to you that I used to put my mark on the
weapons since former times; that those which I distributed amongst my
subjects, the townspeople, are also marked with their brand along with mine;
t at those I distributed amongst my subjects, the tribesmen, only bear my
mark and that the object in affixing the marks of my subjects, the towns
people, is that I take the weapons from them when need arises and return the
same to them when there is no need and any one can distinguish his weapon
r a i S maik because the rifles are all of one pattern. When the consignment
of 440 arrived and bore the warehouse inscription, my subjects, the towns-