'Selection from Correspondence Relative to the Traffic in Arms in the Persian Gulf, 1897-98. Part I' [‎10v] (20/54)

14
Political
1727/98.
No. 20.
Messrs. Bucknall Brothers 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. .
East India Chambers,
23, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.,
Sir, 31st January 1898.
Our attention has been called to the enclosed newspaper* paragraph
dealing with the action of the Govern-
ri*t^\ ar ’” 28th January 1898 ' ( ' Not ment in respect of the S.S. “Balu-
^ nn e chistan,” and thereupon arguing to the
same end in respect of the steamer “ Tripoli,” with which vessel we are
concerned as charterers (not as managers) for her present voyage.
The suggestion in the newspaper paragraph that the Government should
deal with the “ Tripoli ” in the same way as it was found necessary to deal
with the “ Baluchistan ” can, we assume, only have been made by the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping.
of the paragraph in complete ignorance of the facts as they concern the
4< Tripoli.” We think it only right to express to you the circumstances
affecting the “ Tripoli,” firstly, on the grounds of the interest which the
same may have for the Government, and, secondly, for the consequences to
us under our responsibilities as charterers of the steamer, should any unusual
proceedings be directed by the Government against the S.S. “ Tripoli.” It
may be unnecessary and superfluous for us to write you in this connection,
but we are apprehensive, in view of the interest being shown over the
“ Baluchistan ” affair, lest our steamer “ Tripoli ” should, from insufficient
knowledge with the Government, be deemed to be carrying on some
irregular course of action prejudicial to British interests in respect of the
arms and ammunition which have been shipped on board this steamer.
We desire rather to assist the Government with the fullest possible infor
mation in so far as the Government may wish to have such information, and
our manifests, correspondence, and all particulars relating to the cargo on
board are entirely at the service of the Government in the event of your
wishing to have reference to the same.
We have to point out that there has been no secrecy or subterfuge in any
shape or form of which we have knowledge in respect of the arms and
ammunition shipped in the “ Tripoli,” and our Agents at Manchester have
adopted the regular procedure in reporting at the Customs as to the
description and destination of the cargo shipped, and doubtless the shippers
of the cargo have in like manner furnished the usual shippers’ declaration as
to the value, description, and destination of the goods.
The newspaper paragraph conveys misstatements as to the circumstances
generally, and particularly in the reference to the steamer calling at Djibouti.
We do not deem it necessary in this letter to trouble you with corrections of
the inaccuracies of the newspaper correspondent, but we should prefer, as we
have already indicated, to place at your disposal all such information as we
possess with regard to the cargo of the S.S. “ Tripoli ” if it would bo of any
service or interest to your Department, and so as to obviate any trouble
arising with the S.S. “ Tripoli ” in the course of her voyage by the interference
of Her Majesty’s ships of war through inaccurate or incomplete information
as to the nature of her cargo.
We beg to apologise for troubling you with this communication, but we
do so upon the grounds set forth above in this letter, and we shall feel
obliged if you will let us know whether the Government intend to offer any
objection to the trading in which the “ Tripoli ” is engaged on this voyage
after you have the full details of the business such as we shall lay before
you.
The “Tripoli” is now in, or has passed through, the Suez Canal, and
proceeds to Jeddah to discharge part cargo, thence to Djibouti where she will
discharge 1,800 tons of railway material, afterwards proceeding to Muscat to
land merchandise, including 46 cases of guns and cartridges, thence to places
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. terminating at Bussorah, to discharge ordinary
merchandise.