File 520/1911 'Arabia:- Arms Traffic in the Yemen.' [‎20r] (44/342)

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s GoveaaBaent.]
ARMS TRAFFIC.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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[21626]
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. v 18 JUL1911
No. 1.
[June 3.]
Skction 2.
The Marquis Imperiali to Sir Edward Grey.—{Received June 3.)
(Translation.)
THE Italian Ambassador presents his compliments to Sir E. Grey, and, with
reference to the Foreign Office notes of the 9th and 11th instant, has the honour, by
direction of his Government, to forward the enclosed draft of a protocol between
Italy, England, and France for the suppression of the contraband trade in arms
and ammunition in Ottoman territorial waters in the Red Sea and the neio'hbourino-
zone.
The Marchese Imperiali will be grateful if Sir E. Grey will be so good as to
inform him of the opinion of the British Government as to this draft protocol.
London, May 25, 1911.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Draft Protocol between Italy, France, and England for the Suppression of the Contraband
Trade in Arms in Ottoman Territorial Waters in the Red Sea and the Neighbouring
Zone.
(Translation.)
IN order to facilitate the action of Turkey during the present exceptional period
of insurrection in the vilayet of Yemen, Italy, France, and England have determined
to exercise in the maritime zone in question a special and very active surveillance over
their merchant-vessels with a view to preventing any attempt to carry on contraband
trade in arms and ammunition on the part of vessels*under the protection of the flag
of one of these Powers.
TV ith this object and in agreement with the Ottoman Government, who
the following verbal understandings are placed on
expressly adhere and consent,
record :—
1. Every question of principle relating to the right of visit either in the open sea
or in Ottoman territorial waters remains in statu quo and unprejudiced.
In the same way shall remain in statu quo and unprejudiced the existing
situation, in law and in practice, as regards the treatment of dhows between Turkey
and each of the other three Powers adhering to the present verbal understanding, they
being those whose colonial possessions include stations on the Red Sea in commercial
relations with the coast of Yemen.
2. No modification is introduced by the present agreement into the conventional
law observed between France, England, and Italy with reference to the reciprocal
treatment of their respective vessels in the Red Sea, except as far as concerns the
zone which will be indicated below, under the conditions which are to be specified,
and for the purposes towards which the present temporary and special agreement is
directed.
3. 'Within the maritime zone which extends parallel to the coast of the Ottoman /
provinces on the Red Sea and up to a distance of 20 miles from land, surveillance over j
native vessels flying the Italian, French, or British flag shall be exercised without
distinction by the war-ships of the above-mentioned Powers.
4. The commanding officers of the war-ships of the three aforesaid Powers shall
limit their action to ensuring that the said native vessels are not carrying on contra
band trade in arms and ammunition. With this object they will follow the procedure
sanctioned by the existing international agreements. The enquiry respecting the fla 0 *
shall be limited to the examination of the dhow’s papers. When the certificate of
nationality is found to be in order, without removing the suspicions which have led to
the native vessel being boarded, it shall be permissible to proceed to examine the
cargo, the reasons which determined this step and the arguments adduced against it
being shown in the proces-verbal of the visit.
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