'Selection from Correspondence Relative to the Traffic in Arms in the Persian Gulf, 1897-98. Part II' [‎31r] (7/52)

50
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great sum
;he Malek
but others
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3s being
As a precautionary measure I suggested to the Consul that he should
order all the British subjects in the place to register the number and marks,
&c., of all arms now in their possession, and to give them strict injunctions
that none are to be sold without his previous sanction; now this does not
appear to me to be a very arbitrary measure, yet he said he had no authority
for so doing. That being so it is useless to ask the Sultan to do the same
with regard to his subjects dealing in arms; in no other way that I can see
is it possible to keep a touch on the arms at present here, or to trace any
that may be hereafter discovered elsewhere.
Although His Highness the Sultan will receive a considerable sum from
the Indian Government for his apparent willingness to co-operate with us in
the suppression of the arms export from his country, and also a recompense
for possible loss to him through the decrease of the Customs’ dues, it does
not appear to me, and I have made every inquiry, that he has in any one
way, small or great, taken any measures to prevent the export of arms. He
has signed the proclamation to his subjects, and there his action ceases. I
point all this out particularly to show what little power or influence the
representatives of our Government have over him, and it is rumoured with
very considerable amount of truth, that he looks upon and uses the Erench
A r ice-Consul as a sort of legal adviser on questions arising between the
British Consul and himself. Formerly he was satisfied with a wish expressed
by word of mouth from our Consul, but now everything must be in writing,
which may be shown to the Erench Vice-Consul. I give another instance of
how impossible it is for any secrecy to exist in communications between His
Highness and the British Consul, and vice versd. The Sultan’s secretary,
who writes and translates the letters sent and received, is the Erench Vice-
Consul’s moonshee brought by him from Zanzibar.
I do not for a moment wish to imply that the Consul is in fault. In
retaliation he also hears things concerning the Erench Vice-Consul, but I take
it they are of little value.
******
I have received an intimation from the Besident that the treaty with the
Sheik of Bahrein (Esa) has been concluded on identical lines as that with
His Highness the Sultan.
******
I have, &c.,
C. J. Baker,
Commander and Senior Naval Officer,
Bear Admiral E. C. Drummond, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Division.
Commander-in-Chief.
No. 2.
Lieutenant-Colonel M. J. Meade, Political Besident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
to 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. .
No. 228c of 1898. Camp. Muskat,
Sir, 16th April 1898.
I have the honour to forward, for the information of the Secretary of
State for India, copies of my letter and its enclosures, relative to the decision
of His Highness, the Sultan of Muskat, in regard to the arms seized on
board the S.S. “ Beluchistan ” on the 24th January last.
I have, &c.,
M. J. Meade,
Political Besident in the
W. Lee-Warner, Esq., C.S.I. Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Political
No. 33/98.