File 619/1907 Pt 2 'Arms Traffic:- Muscat dhows. "Kadra" case.' [‎369v] (747/804)

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No. 339, dated Maskat, 2nd April 1909.
From R.E. Holland, Esq., 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 His Britannic Majesty’s Consul,
iVi 3.S K clt j
• See my telegram Nos. 334 - 5 ,dated 31 st March
and further papers enclosed.
To—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. , Bushire.
I have the honour to address you in continuation of my letter No. 2^
dated 6ih March 1909, on the subject of the seizure of a Maskat dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. at Hafun
by Italian authorities.
2. Since my last letter His Highness the Sultan has received further com
plaints* from his subjects to the effect that
the Italian authorities at Hafun have con-
. , , . , fiscated the flags of about thirty Maskat
vessels, and have seized a badan. In view of these complaints and having regard
to the fact that the Italian Consul-General at Aden does not f admit that the
t See Major Merewether’s letter No. 702 -A., Nakhoda of the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. Kadra ’’ has any
dated 20 th March 1909 , copy enclosed. ’ right to damages, His Highness now
f . . desires to ask the assistance of the Govern
ment 01 India in securing formal reparation from the Italian Government. As the
t m. Omar, the Italian Agent here, is simply a Sultan has no{ means of approaching the
'No'.XZ'daf.? It ^ ian Government direct, and as it is our
, . . . pohcy to lend him reasonable support in his
relations with foreign powers, I trust that his request may be granted, in accord
ance with the recommendation already made in your letter No. 723 dated 21st
March 1909, to the Government of India.
3* The following is a brief prdcis of the facts.
On 22nd December 1908 M. Fiore, the Italian Lieutenant at Hafun, search
ed a Maskat dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. named f ‘ Kadra ” on its arrival at that port. He found one
See Italian Consul-General’s letter t 0 Resident rifle in the boat, hidden under a carnet and
at Aden, No. 213 , dated 14th February 1900 . r-k’ * . . U
... , , y he re £ ar ded this discovery as justifying him
m seizing the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , partly because the rifle had not on its stock the marks
required by article IX, paragraph 5 of the Brussels Convention, and partly
because the Nakhuda of the boat, although possessing a written license from the
Copy enclosed. Suitan of Maskat to carry five rifles for
, , . ._ , protection, had assured the Lieutenant that
he had no rifles on board.
4 . As regards the question of marks, I do not see that the Article of the
Brussels Convention, quoted by the Italian Consul-General, applies to the case
at all. The weapon had not been imported into any of the prohibited territories
mentioned in Article VIII of the General Act, and there was no evidence to show
that importation was contemplated. The possession of the rifle by the Nakhoda
w f c°v er ed by the license which he held from the Sultan of Maskat countersign
ed by the British Consul, and the Lieutenant’s disregard of the document appears
to constitute an affront not only to His Highness but to the British Government
whose officer countersigned it. The Nakhoda explains that he assured the Lieut
enant that there were no rifles on board because he had ordered all the rifles to be
landed at Sur, before leaving Oman territory, doubtless in anticipation of some
such difficulty as has arisen. One of the crew, however, retained on board an
old rifle which he had had for 15 years and which had been given to him by the
Sultan of Maskat. I see no reason to doubt the truth of this statement, but in
spection of the rifle seized would afford a valuable test, if there were no doubt
of its identity. I have asked the Resident at Aden to try and get hold of it.
5. For the above reasons I venture to think that the seizure of the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean.
was an unjustifiable act, and that the Italian Government should be held respon
sible for any loss or damage that may have resulted from it.
The Italian Government appear to have recognised the unpropriety of their
5 See Italian Consul-General’s letter to Resident subordinate’s action by giving orders^ on
.«Aden, dated MthFebnnr, ., 09 . 2nd February for the immediate release
or the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. and its crew,