'File 13/10 Arms facilities for Shaikh Mubarak' [‎125v] (250/650)

80
No. 2056, dated Bushire, the 13th (received 21st) August 1911 (Confidential).
From— Lieutenant-Colonel P. Z. Cox, C.S.I., C.I.E., 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. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
With reference to the correspondence ending with Foreign Department
• Serial No. 28 telegram* Ko. S —410, dated 10th July
1911, I have the honour to forward, for
No. c.—5i, dated sist July 1911 . favour of consideration, a copy of a com
munication received from 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. , Kuwait, reporting the result of
his discussion with Shaikh Mubarak of the measures best calculated to supply
an effective check upon the subsequent life-history of the arms and ammuni
tion imported by the latter with our permission.
2. In my letterf No. 1256 of 14th May, I suggested tlmt the rifles be
branded with a special device befo
leaving Maskat, and that the arrange
ments regulating their issue should be subject to the supervision of the Political
Agent.
As regards the cartridges, apart from the said supervision of their issue by
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. , I could only suggest our requiring a proportion of empty
cases to be returned.
f Serial No. 156, Part VIII.
Captain Shakespear and Shaikh Mubarak, in modification of the above,
contemplate the stamping of the barrels on arrival at Kuwait with the recognis
ed mark of the Shaikh.
3. This arrangement would enable the Shaikh to stamp all rifles coming
into Kuwait, with or without our permission, and would not(?) provide a check
on the numbers used in Kuwait territory. On the other hand, it would be just
as efficacious so far as concerns the contraband trade into Persia, because any
weapon found in Persia or en route to Persia with the Kuwait mark on it
would be ipso facto liable to confiscation.
Whether the arms are branded at Maskat or Kuwait seems to make little
difference so long as the consignments are supervised by His Majesty’s Ships
on their way from Maskat to Kuwait, as they will be. Subject, therefore, to
the Government of India’s approval, I think the Kuwait suggestion under
this head may stand.
4. The other details for supervision of the issue and storage of rifles are
satisfactory, but I think Shaikh Mubarak should be asked to allow 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. to check the munitions with the list at any time he may wish
after, say, 24 or 48 hours* notice.
5. The question of the ammunition while no less important is a much
less simple one to deal with. ^ The only further suggestion I can make is that
we should require the Shaikh in future to order through a British firm, who
would be required to have the cartridge cases stamped with the Kuwait mark
before exportation. I do not fancy Shaikh Mubarak would object to this
course, but it would not be possible to bring it into force in connection with
the present consignment.
6. The crux of the position is that Shaikh Mubarak, if he really needs the
munitions, will no doubt get them up by land if we do not comply with what
he considers his reasonable needs.
Six months or a year hence we may be in a stronger position than we are
now, both in regard to the arms traffic question and the status of Kuwait, and
on the whole, I would advise Government to accept the present proposals
(including the right of 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. to check the magazine) and, if
necessary, work out a more fully efficacious system before he asks for another
consignment.
If it is possible for Government to communicate their decision by telegram*
I request the favour of that being done.