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File 619/1907 Pt 1 'Arms Traffic :- Muscat Warehouse. Negotiations with France 1907-1911.' [‎164r] (336/980)

The record is made up of 1 volume (488 folios). It was created in 1 Aug 1906-25 Aug 1911. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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No. 14)62—XIY-K, dated the 11th October 1909 (Confidential).
From— His Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief, H. M. S. “ Hyacinth ” at
AuGD,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Marine Department.
With reference to my letter No. 1462-XIY of the 4th instant, forwarding
a copy of the sailing orders to the Commanding Officer, H. M. S. “ Fox ” to
proceed to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Division for duty in connection with the suppression
of the traffic in arms, be pleased to acquaint His Excellency the Viceroy and
Governor-General of India in Council that an extra cutter and Maxim gun
have been supplied to that ship, to enable her, whilst employed on that service,
to keep at least 5 of her boats constantly away cruising. It is hoped that the
“ Fox will be joined by the “ Philomel ” about the beginning of November,
which wiU further increase the number of boats available.
2. It, therefore, becomes necessary to consider the question of the disposal
of any dhows engaged in the arms traffic that may be captured.
3. As far as I can ascertain, the craft engaged in the trade are usually
Maskat owned. Since our principal objective must be to render the traffic so
unremunerative that it will cease to attract capital, it follows that one of the
most important points is to render it so risky that the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. -owners, for their
own protection, will have to raise the freight against the shippers of arms.
y
4. If Maskat dhows, on being captured, were taken back to Maskat, as
was proposed by a former 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. , it is probable
that they would be sold by auction by the Sultan, and bought in at a nominal
sum by their late owners, who would then use them again in the same trade.
Comparatively speaking, the loss to the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. -owners would be small, and
would practically take the form of a fine to be paid to the Sultan, if the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean.
were caught. The sum would be easily recovered from the shippers by a small
general rise of freight.
5. On the other hand, if the dhows were sent to a British Port of Adjudi
cation, and there condemned by a Prize Court to be destroyed, it is probable
that the effect on the traffic in arms would be considerable. The actual loss
to the original owner of the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. would cause a substantial rise in freight, as
there would be a great difference between the total loss and the payment of a
fine or ransom to the Sultan for the recovery of the vessel. This difference
must be covered somehow if the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. -owner is to make a profit. In course of
time, a shortage would probably occur among the dhows suitable for the trade,
which would mean a further rise in freight.
6 . It is, therefore, suggested, for the consideration of the Government of
India,* that a Colonial Court of Admiralty should be established at Karachi,
which should be also a Prize Court under the provisions of the Naval Prize Act,
1864, and the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890, in order that any dhows
captured while engaged in the arms traffic, may be sent there for adjudication.
No. 404, dated the 3rd November 1909.
From—His Excellency the Naval Commender-in-Chief, H. M. S. “ Hyacinth ” at
Bombay,
p 0 Th e Secretary to the Government of India in the Marine Department.
With reference to my letter No. 1462-XIV.K of the Hth ultimo,
leeeetine that a Colonial Court of Admiralty should he established at Karachi
ir dealing with dhows seized while engaged in the arms traffic, be pleased to
v before His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General of India m
ouncil the annexed copy of a memorandum issued to the ships under my
rders enclosing a statement showing the powers possessed by His Majesty s
iips for exercising the right of search and detention of vessels so engaged.
2 It will be seen that I have given orders that, for the present, Maskat,
ld Persian dhows seized upon the High Seas, and Persian dhows taken in

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Content

The volume discusses the arms trade at Muscat and attempts by the British Government and the Sultan of Muscat to prohibit it; also included are reports and discussions from the Conference on Arms Traffic which was being held in Brussels in 1909 at the same time as the discussions in the volume.

Included in the volume is correspondence with the French Consul at Muscat (Lucien-Ernest-Roger Laronce, and Charles Céleste Albert Jeannier) and representatives of the Government of France regarding both the need for French co-operation to enforce the prohibition, and suspicions that French merchants at Muscat were involved in the trade.

The later correspondence discusses the following: a proposal made by the French Government that would have seen the Gambia being given by Britain to France; the decision by the French Government to attempt to end the arms trade in Jibuti [Djibuti]; and reports on the work of British naval authorities to stop vessels in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and seize arms and ammunition.

The principal correspondents for the British Government include the 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. (Percy Zachariah Cox); 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. and Consul at Maskat [Muscat] (William George Grey, Robert Erskine Holland, and Arthur Prescott Trevor); the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department (Sir Louis William Dane, and Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler); the Naval Commander-in-Chief for the East Indies Station (Sir Edmund Samuel Poe, and Edmond John Warre Slade); the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey); the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Victor Alexander Bruce, Lord Elgin); the British Ambassador to France (Sir Francis Leveson Bertie, 1st Viscount Bertie of Thame), and representatives of the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .

This volume is part 1 of 10. Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (488 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 619 (Arms Traffic) consists of 7 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/111-116. The volumes are divided into 10 parts with parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 comprising one volume each, parts 6, 7, 8, and 9 comprising the sixth volume and part 10 comprising the seventh volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 484; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Two mixed foliation/pagination sequences are present in parallel between ff 229-242 and ff 258-270 respectively; these numbers are written in blue crayon.

The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 619/1907 Pt 1 'Arms Traffic :- Muscat Warehouse. Negotiations with France 1907-1911.' [‎164r] (336/980), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/110, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026534936.0x000089> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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