'Selection from Correspondence Relative to the Traffic in Arms in the Persian Gulf, 1897-98. Part I' [‎26r] (51/54)

I
45
Zb
No. 49.
From Secretary of State to Viceroy, 22nd March 1898.
(Telegraphic.)
Your
telegram
of 21 st
* No. 22.
March. See my telegram* of 1st February Political
explaining procedure. I presume that 384 /98.
in case of “ Baluchistan ” arms were
seized by British ship without the presence of any Muscat official empowered
to inquire and seize in Sultan’s name, and that it is this preliminary inquiry
which Sultan now refuses to make after our ships have co-operated with him
in stopping “ Baluchistan ” on the assumption that inquiry would follow.
If that is the case, Sultan should he courteously pressed to appoint an officer
to hold inquiry. Our Consul should regulate his action according to my
telegram above cited. I am awaiting the proceedings of the Muscat official,
and any subsequent proceedings in the Consulate, as several complaints and
applications have been received, and law-suits are possible. Full details of
seizure of each case are therefore required here for reference. Regarding
ultimate disposal of confiscated arms,
see Secretary’s Letter,! No. 6 , of
11th Februarv. As it is desirable to
*
conciliate Sultan, it seems impolitic to threaten suspension of subsidy.
f Forwarding letter to
No. 19.
Foreign Office,
# Not printed.
No. 50.
Enclosure in Foreign Office Letter of 23rd March.
Foreign Office to Fracis Times & Co.
Foreign Office,
Gentlemen, 23rd March 1898.
I am directed by the Marquess of Salisbury to acknowledge the Political
receipt of your letter of the 15th 1861/98.
instant,* in which you protest against
the delay involved by a reference to Teheran and Bushire of your previous
statement respecting your claim to recover possession of certain arms and
ammunition which have recently been seized.
It appears from this letter that the object of the reference of your
statement to Persia has been misunderstood.
According to the information in the possession of Her Majesty’s Government
the importation of arms into Persia bas been prohibited, at least since 1881,
by Persian regulations. It is notorious and has been stated in official
reports that the traffic in arms which has nevertheless taken place was in
violation of the regulation. It was therefore carried on subject to the risk
which must necessarily attend such transactions.
The Persian Government have lately taken effective steps to enforce the
prohibition. In these steps which they were perfectly justified in taking,
they have requested the assistance of friendly Powers. Her Majesty’s
Government have thought it right to give that assistance, and they are not
prepared to interfere with the action taken unless they are satisfied that the
trade in any particular instance being carried on by British subjects was not
illicit.
The inquiries made by the Marquess of Salisbury have not hitherto
resulted in procuring such evidence, and it is observed that the consignees
of the arms and ammunition shipped by you have not come forward with
their bills of lading and other proofs to satisfy the Consular Authorities in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. as to the open and lawful character of their transactions.
His Lordship has informed you in my letter of the 12 th instant of his
inability to object to the measures taken. But he has forwarded your
statement to the Resident at Bushire in order that it may be taken into
consideration with the representations which may have been made by your
S. 8. m