![Coll 7/5 'Afghanistan: purchase of arms etc. from foreign sources: Germany' [‎266r] (531/1035)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x0002c9/IOR_L_PS_12_2174_0532.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Coll 7/5 'Afghanistan: purchase of arms etc. from foreign sources: Germany' [‎266r] (531/1035)")
Coll 7/5 'Afghanistan: purchase of arms etc. from foreign sources: Germany' [266r] (531/1035)
The record is made up of 1 file (517 folios). It was created in 3 Jul 1931-24 Oct 1939. It was written in English and French. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
P.Z. 1057/36.
No. 18
(N. 689/233/97).
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.l.
11th February, 1936.
Sir,
The Afghan Minister called at this department on
February 4th to pursue further some of the questions discussed
with me by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (see my despatches
Nos. 16 and 17 of the 5th February).
2. As regards the supply of arms to the Afghan Government,
which was the first subject to be discussed, Mohammad Ali was
told, in view of your telegram No.9 of the 31st January, uiiat
you had resumed negotiations for the sale of the remaining
10,000 out of the first batch of 15,000 rifles but had
telegraphed on February 1st that you were still without a
reply to your proposals on that subject. As soon as this
question had been settled, however, it would be possible to
consider the supuly of another 15,000 rifles, making 30,000
in all.
3. As regards the supply of aeroplanes, the Minister was
informed that His Majesty’s Government were already exploring
this question, which, as I had pointed out, was particularly
difficult, and would continue their investigations as quickly
as possible to see what assistance, if any, could be
afforded. As regards mountain guns, it was understood that
the Afghan Government had already approached Messrs. Vickers,
and His Majesty's Governnent were now considering whether
that firm could be advised to send a representative to Kabul
to discuss the matter further in the spring.
4. Mohammad Ali said that he understood the position
about the rifles and about the aeroplanes and would so report
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As regards the
mountain/
Lieut. -Col *
W.K.Fraser-Tytler, C.M.G., M.C.,
etc., etc., etc.,
Kabul•
About this item
- Content
The file contains correspondence regarding the purchase of weapons and ammunition by the Afghan Government from Germany and other sources. It includes correspondence between Afghan Officials -- the Foreign Minister, the Legations to Paris and London, and the Consulate of Afghanistan in India -- and British Officials, including 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. Political Department, HM Minister Kabul (Richard Maconachie), the Foreign Office, the War Office, and HM Ambassador to Berlin (Neville Henderson).
The file opens with correspondence regarding the alleged purchase in 1931 of arms from Germany, in violation of Article 170 of the Treaty of Versailles. It is determined that the arms in question originated in Poland, with funding from the German Government. Later correspondence documents the British decision not to protest against such treaty violations, in light of the obligation on Britain to not interfere with the supply of arms to Afghanistan as agreed in the Anglo-Afghan Treaty (1921).
Arrangements for the purchase, licensing and transport of arms to Afghanistan from Czechoslovakia, Germany, Japan, Spain, the USA, France and Belgium are documented in the file. The principal firms involved in these arrangements are: Škoda Works; Rheinmetall-Borsig AG; Dynamit-Actien-Gesellschaft (vormals Alfred Nobel); and Messrs Vickers-Armstrongs Limited. A number of additional firms are mentioned but not named. The file also contains communications received from the Government of India Central Board of Revenue and the Collector of Customs at Karachi, reporting on the arrival and examination of shipments, the validity of export licences, and the payment of customs dues.
The file includes dividers which give lists of correspondence references contained in the file by year. These are placed at the end of the correspondence (folios 2-4).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (517 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in rough chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 517; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Coll 7/5 'Afghanistan: purchase of arms etc. from foreign sources: Germany' [266r] (531/1035), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2174, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100037552873.0x000084> [accessed 24 April 2024]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100037552873.0x000084
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100037552873.0x000084">Coll 7/5 'Afghanistan: purchase of arms etc. from foreign sources: Germany' [‎266r] (531/1035)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100037552873.0x000084"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x0002c9/IOR_L_PS_12_2174_0532.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x0002c9/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2174
- Title
- Coll 7/5 'Afghanistan: purchase of arms etc. from foreign sources: Germany'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:10v, 12r:21v, 23r:23v, 25r:27v, 29r:42v, 44r:60v, 62r:65v, 67r:67v, 69r:74v, 76r:77v, 80r:80v, 82r:145v, 149r:160v, 162r:169v, 171r:174v, 176r:205r, 206r:248v, 250r:254v, 256r:334v, 336r:357v, 359r:370v, 372r:378v, 380r:390v, 392r:394v, 396r:398v, 400r:418v, 420r:420v, 422r:428v, 430r:431v, 433r:443v, 445r:451v, 453r:456v, 458r:462v, 465r:465v, 468r:474v, 476r:481v, 484r:496v, 498r:517v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence