'Selection from Correspondence Relative to the Traffic in Arms in the Persian Gulf, 1897-98. Part I' [‎19v] (38/54)

32
Political
1787/98.
Political
1813/98.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this notice in any respect will
make the offender liable to a penalty of 100 /.
Custom House, London,
26th February 1898.
By Order of the Board of Customs,
R. T. Prowse, Secretary.
(G. O. 13/1898.)
No. 37.
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. to Foreign Office.
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. ,
Sir, 4th March 1898.
I am directed by the Secretary of State for India to acknowledge the
, „ receipt of your letter,* dated the 21 st
^ ee " °’ ' of February, enclosing a copy of
Mr. Hardinge’s Despatch, No. 172, dated the 31st of December last, and to
state that Lord George Hamilton concurs in the proposal of the Marquess
of Salisbury to approve the action taken by Mr. Hardinge in connection with
the seizure of arms by the Persian authorities at Bushire.
I have, &c.,
The Under Secretary of State, A. Godley.
Foreign Office.
No. 38.
Enclosure in Foreign Office Letter of 4th March 1898.
Mr. Hardinge to the Marquess of Salisbury.
* See No. 27.
No. 19. Tehran,
My Lord, 1 st February 1898.
The Persian text of the joint communication to the Government of
Muscat signed by the Sadr Azam, respecting the importation of arms into
Muscat, was duly forwarded to Bushire on the 8 th ultimo.
On the 25th ultimo I received information from Her Majesty’s Consul-
General in Bushire that the Sultan of
Muscat had agreed* to join the British
and Persian Governments in putting an end to the traffic in arms. With
this object the Sultan of Muscat published a warning to his people informing
them that the trade in arms was illegal, and that all arms found would be
confiscated. A similar warning w r as given to British subjects in Muscat.
The Sultan further gave a WTitten permission to British and Persian vessels
of war to seize in Muscat waters British, Persian and Muscat vessels with
arms consigned to British and Persian ports, also to seize Muscat vessels in
British and Persian waters, and to confiscate the arms found on board.
In December last, in accordance with your Lordship’s instructions, I
requested the commanders of Her Majesty’s ships in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
through the British Resident at Bushire, to do their utmost to intercept and
seize in Persian waters the S.S. “ Beluchistan,” wTiich was known to have
shipments of arms on board, and I warned them of the attempt that would
probably be made to divert the whole cargo of arms to Muscat. The con
clusion of the agreement with the Government of Muscat permitted action
to be taken by Her Majesty’s ships in the waters of Muscat, and the S.S.
“Beluchistan ” was seized on the 24th ultimo by H.M.S. “Lapwing ” near
Muscat, and the cargo of arms was handed and made over to the British
Consul pending instructions as to their disposal. The seizure of the arms
on board the S.S. “ Beluchistan,” together with the seizure of arms already
made at Bushire will, I believe, strike a most effective blow at the traffic of
arms in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .