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'The Trade in Arms with the Persian Gulf' [‎55v] (4/4)

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The record is made up of 1 file (2 folios). It was created in 3 Jun 1898. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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to land not merely at the port originally named, but at another port
in the Gulf as desired, and the desire of the consignee is signified at the
last moment, and even at a port on the way to the Gulf. The practice of
the trade has been carefully watched of late, and the main impression pro
duced by the inquiries is the endeavour to obscure the destination and the
names of the recipients of the arms. Some firms of repute have given up
the trade, and the firms which take most part in it have Indians or Persians
as partners. At the port of receipt the trade is largely in the hands of those,
e.g., Malcolm & Co. of Bushire, or Gopalji Walji'of Muscat, who have
secured a contract for the collection of the customs. Where the importer is
not also collector, he secures the goodwill of the customs authorities by
payment of a bribe in the shape of a special ad valorem duty. The receipts
from these duties are not entered as customs receipts. The English firms
have agents at Muscat or in the Gulf, whose proceedings are in accord with
the whole spirit of secrecy that pervades the trade. Finally, the arms sent
out are chiefly of Belgian make, and the greatest care has of late been taken
to remove all marks from them.
Our policy for the future .—I have shown that despite the representations
of Muscat, and the customs regulations of Persia, an illicit traffic in arms,
chiefly of Belgian make, has been carried on by a few British firms in a
secret manner with the Gulf, and that it is inimical to British interests. As
to its extent, its registered value rose from Bs. 13,120 in 1892-93 to
Bs. 23,87,195 in 1896-97, and when lately the operations of search and
seizure were conducted at Bushire, Muscat, and Bahrein some two-and-a-
half million rounds of ammunition, and nearly 16,000 rifles were seized.
Our interests in the Gulf are to preserve peace and order for commerce, and
in Persian territory we desire to maintain communications and open out
trade routes. In Baluchistan we are more directly responsible for order, and
it is important that Afghan and Pathan tribes should not have access to an
unlimited supply of arms. Even on the Arab coast we have of late years
actively interfered to uphold the Sultan’s rule, and that rule is imperilled by
the importation of arms. We must therefore continue to assist our allies in
suppressing the illicit traffic in arms, and it is necessary that no favour should
be shown by them to foreign merchants. We have a right to expect that
Persia will uniformly exert itself to confiscate arms imported by any nation
contrary to its regulations. As regards the British importers, whose arms have
been seized, no intervention on their behalf will be justified unless they can
prove in the Consular Courts that the arms seized were not intended for
Persian or British territory, or if so intended were being sent under permission
duly received from responsible authority. The trade is at present almost
entirely suspended, and its revival would be unfair upon Persia and Muscat
as well as opposed to our own interests.
W. Lee-Waiiner.
3rd June 1898.

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Content

This file consists of a memorandum written by William Lee-Warner, Secretary to the Political and Secret Department of the 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. , it concerns the arms trade in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. from 1881-98.

The following topics are covered:

  • Persian prohibition of the trade in arms and ammunition with Persian ports;
  • the enforcement of the law;
  • the seizure of arms;
  • British interests in coming to agreement with the Persian Government and assisting in enforcing Persian regulations;
  • methods of trade – secrecy;
  • policy for the future.
Extent and format
1 file (2 folios)
Arrangement

This file consists of a single memorandum.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 54, and terminates at f 55, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'The Trade in Arms with the Persian Gulf' [‎55v] (4/4), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C88, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036314180.0x000005> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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