File 619/1907 Pt 10 'Arms traffic:- Persian Gulf. Prize Money for captures in Persian Gulf.' [‎128r] (260/424)

“ Mekran and Biyaban coasts. He appears to have organised the trade and
“ brought the Afghans down to the coast to receive the arms and take them
“ away.” (Admiral Slade to Government of India, 30thMarch 1910, 620/10).
On the 3rd February 1910, Mir Barkat had an interview with Admiral Slade,
oqonQ on board the latter’s flagship at Jask,
during which he promised to do all in
his power to help in the suppression of the arms trade, and to use his
influence with other Chiefs along the coast by writing to them and advising
them to see the Admiral. But his professions were regarded with suspicion,
and on the 9th March 1910, on representations from the British authorities,
Mir Barkat was deported from Jask by the Darya Begi, the Persian
Governor, and was taken by the latter to Bunder Abbas, where he made an
ineffectual attempt to escape. The Darya Begi informed the British Consul
at Bunder Abbas, on the 13th March 1910, that he would like to receive
approval from Tehran to Barkat’s deportation and orders as to his further
detention. Major Trevor asked the British Minister at Tehran to endeavour
to arrange this with the Persian Government, with the result that Barkat was
despatched to Bushire at the end of March.
60. On the 3rd February 1910, in view of reports that had appeared in
the public press, it was thought advisable to warn the Government of India
of the desirability “ for obvious reasons,” of giving the least possible publicity
to the capture of arms in Persian territory.
61. On the 4th February
Position of Bahrein and Koweit.
Viceroy’s telegram of 4th February 1910
224/10.
of 24th May 1900
1910, the Government of India reported that
the arms dealers were beginning to
remove their arms from Muskat to
Koweit, and that the Admiral strongly
urged that the Sheikh’s proclamation
{see paragraph 13 and Appendix IX.), should be made
widely known, and that the Sultan of Muskat should be asked to include
Koweit dhows within the scope of his proclamation of January 1898 {see
paragraph 8 and Appendix \I.). Both tue Admiral and Major Tievoi, the
acting Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , considered it essential to search Koweit
dhows, and to confiscate the arms and ammunition found on board them.
Subject to the approval of His Majesty’s Government, the Government of
India proposed to issue orders “ that action may be taken under the
“ Koweit proclamation outside Muskat territorial waters at once, and within
“ those waters if Sultan of Muskat will issue necessary proclamation ; also
“ that action be taken under Bahrein and Trucial Chiefs proclamation and
notifications” {see paragraphs 10 and 14 and ? Appendices ATI. and ^ .).
These proposals were approved by His Majesty s Government on the Hth
HT* v 1910. •
Major Trevor was instructed on the 20th February 1910 to warn Koweit
c J of the intended action. He reported on
the 8th March 1910 that the decision of
Government had been communicated to
the Sheikhs of Koweit and Bahrein. In
. tTP-r nared luc the Sheikh of Koweit had notified his
readiness to abide by his proclamation, denied that any of his subjects were
interested in the arms traffic, and promised to punish any Koweit
who should disobey his orders and ship arms and ammunition Shei
\r i rak added that he was prepared to give effect to any orders the lint's
Govermnmit mighf give.* As Agar ds Bahrein, Major Trevor reported tha t
——- , ,, TTGAVe Sheikli of Koweit, it may be remarked that on the 11th
™ a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. (tie “ Fateh-el-Khair’’) flying the
May 1910 the Resident Feisia > , 9 ^ G r firm) reac hed Koweit on the 27th April
French flag, and pnrpoi r ifl °and 49 OOO^ounds of ammunition. According to Sheikh
1910 with a cargo of about 400 his prohibition, and landed in defiance of
regarded as insincere, as he was believed to have
t d lOO^ifles tor himself, and to have allowed the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. to leave Kowert. _ On the 6th
retained 100 1 pressure, he decided to confiscate the cargo from Goguyer s Agent and
Sf”d tt to ^ 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 Koweit. The actual quant.ty made over to the Political
Agent was 301 rifles and 30,100 rounds of ammunition.
Major Trevor to Government of India,
8th March 1910.
512/10.
a letter dated the 2nd March 1910