File 619/1907 Pt 1 'Arms Traffic :- Muscat Warehouse. Negotiations with France 1907-1911.' [‎22r] (52/980)

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V
APR 1911. i-
14
No. 287-P., dated the 13th (received 16th) March 1911.
From—The Hon'ble Lieutenant-Colonel Sir George Roos-Keppel, K.C.I E
Chief Commissioner and Agent to the Governor-General, North-West
Frontier Province,
To— The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
In continuation of the correspondence ending with my telegram No. Ill
No. 146, dated the 28th February 1911, from Mr. E. G. Gregson.
No. 14)6, dated Bushire, the 28th February (received 13th March) 1911.
From—E. G. Gregsom, Esq., Superintendent of Police, on special duty, under
Government of India, Foreign Department, c/o Punjab Bank, Karachi,
To—The Hon'ble Lieutenant-Colonel Sir George Roos-Keppel, K.C I.E A<*ent
In continuation of my report No. 99, dated the 8th February 1911, I have
the honour to draw attention to the very late arrival of the Afghans in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. this year. At one time it seemed that no Afghans intended com
ing down at all, hut during the last few weeks large bodies of Afghans are
reported to be moving down to the Vlekran coast. There is no room for doubt
ing that these men are coming only for arms and have apparently not con
sidered it necessary to come down on the pretext of trading with Bunder Abbas.
They are all said to he well armed and have quantities of ammunition and they
are further reported to be bringing down considerable numbers of camels with
out loads. From the above facts two inferences have been drawn : the first is
that they are determined to get arms at any price and that they will fight if
necessary; while, on the other hand, there is a belief that arms have already
been collected in considerable quantities well inland, either by being smuggled
during the hot season or autumn in small quantities across the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. or
from the inhabitants of the country. If this supposition is correct, they will
turn back without appearing on the coast at all. In support of this theory
there is the mysterious disappearance of a caravan last autumn ; it was
reported well on its way down to Bunder Abbas, when it suddenly turned back,
but nothing has ever been ascertained as to where it went to. This might
happen if they obtained their arms well inland and returned to Afghanistan.
The leaders of the Afghans now on their way to the Gulf are Ghulam Khan, Nasir
of village Sur Nasir near Kandahar and Khalifa Khair Muhammad. Should the
Afghans reach Mir Barkat, late Governor of Biaban, before he decides to come
to terms with us, the situation may become serious. The latest reports are that
Afghans have been sent to Barkat. In any ease as long as large numbers of
Afghans are present in Mekran no reliance whatsoever can be placed in Mir
Barkat; it would be impossible for him to act in co operation with us for the
suppression of the arms traffic, as the Afghans would be a continual menace to
him. In consultation with Captain Craufurd I have sent Inspector Khem Chand
to Charbar and will shortly proceed there myself as at present it seems likely
to he a centre of the Afghan operations. The above facts have from time to
time been reported by Mr. Gumbley and have been corroborated by those I have
received from Bunder Abbas. It is also rumoured that Ali Khan of Maskat
arranged for the Afghans* arrival to coincide with the close of the financial
year, the 31st March, as he had private information that the blockade would
be raised on that date.
• Serial No. 5.
dated the 13th March* 1911, I have
the honour to forward a copy of a letter
to the Governor-General and Chief Commissioner, North West-Frontier
Province, Peshawar.