File 619/1907 Pt 3 'Arms Traffic:- Koweit Trade.' [‎290r] (584/720)

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^Translation of a letter, dated 24th Safar {19th April 1906), from Cap
tain S. G. Knox, 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. , Konoeit, to Sheikh Mi>barak-us-Su-
bah, Ruler of Koweit.
Your letter dated the 24th Safar has reached mein a good hour and we were
rejoiced to hear of your safety and the restoration of your health, and as you
wrote, we have informed our friend, the son Jabir, of what has reached us from
the Great Government and he, please God, will inform you about that but also I
think it better to write to you further and it is that the Resident in Bushire
wrote to me this order that news has reached him and also the great Government
that arms are coming to Koweit openly and in great quantities, and that I should
demand from Your Excellency that you should endeavour to the utmost that the
proclamation of Your Excellency published in 1900 A D. prohibiting the import
of arms to Koweit be more effective than it has appeared until now. This was
what was necessary and may you remain safe and guarded.
Translation of a letter dated 30th Safar 1324.H. {24th April 1906), from
Ahibarak-us-Subah, Chief of Koweit, to Captain S. G. Knox, LA, Poli
tical Agent, Koweit.
Your letter dated Safar 1324 H. has reached us here ? Please God, my
friend, after some days we shall be present in our town and shall meet you, if
God please and may you remain safe and guarded.
No. 227, dated 3rd July 1906.
p rom — Captain S. G. Knox, I A , 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. , Koweit,
To— Major P. Z. COX, C.I.E., 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 The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire.
In continuation of my letter No. 142, dated 24th April 1906, 1 have the
honour to report that Sheikh Mubarak paid me a visit on the 25th May 1906, and
that we had a long conversation on the subject of the Arms Trade.
2. The Sheikh denied that arms were brought into Koweit except in very
small quantities for private purposes, not for trade. He also talked Ipiig about
M GoVuyer, said that he publicly visited Bahrein and resided openly in Maskat
and the Sheikh contrasted his own conduct with that of the other two chiefs.
3 During this part of the conversation, he said that M. Goguyer had advis
ed him to keep the representatives of two or three powers in the place so that
thev should pull different ways and the Sheikh make profit out of them all. 1 he
Sheikh savs that he replied that he feared none of them but that he saw one
whose ways were good and true and preferred that one, whtle he had no fancy
for any of the others.
a 1 said that there were ample proofs to our mind that arms were being
imported in large quantities. 1 reminded him of the cartridges that i had
se en and he said that he had sent 16 boxes to Bin Saood. Here 1 remarked
that f had counted s° boxes and that I had only seen the last consignment of
the buggalow Large trading vessel. load. 5 1 told him how a shopkeeper in the bazaar had told me
that thfduty on each rifle was six dollars and would no doubt have given me
much more Interesting information, had 1 not gone away for fear of getting t e
man into trouble. 1 said that letters from and to noted arms merchants were
constantly coming and going through our Post Office and that we estimated his
annual revenue from the trade in round figures at a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of dollars.
, I then explained to him, as coming from myself, that the reason why we
nr loin ally asked him to notify a prohibition was because so many arms were
bemgsmiTggted to rebellious tribis on our Indian frontier, and that this whole-
salelmportlfion in spite of the prohibition enables bis enemies and ours o mis
represent matters and attnbu^far-fetched motives^of ev^ndtous and^hnm
can well do if he chooses.