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File 868/1912 Pt 7 'Arms Traffic: Muscat Arms. - Disposal of. Sample Arms from Muscat. French stocks at Muscat.' [56r] (118/508)
The record is made up of 1 volume (250 folios). It was created in 1913-1919. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1219, dated Maskat, the 9th
(Eeceived 16th)
November 1914
From— Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. E. Benn,
Britannic Majesty’s Consul, Maskat,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in
ment, Delhi.
C.I.E.,
Political Agent
A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency.
and His
the Foreign and Political Depart-
nf , J T iave * le £°. rward > llerewltIl > a C0 Py of my letter No. 1218, dated the
9th November 1914, with its enclosures, which I have addressed to the Political
Kesident in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, Bushire, on the subject of the final disposal of the
French stocks of arms. ^
No. 1218, dated Maskat, the 9th November 1914.
From— Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. E. Benn, C.I.E.,
Political Agent
A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency.
and His Britannic
Majesty’s Consul, Maskat,
To—The
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, Bushire.
I have the honour to submit the following report in connection with the final
disposal of the French stock ef arms reported in my letter No. 209, dated the 1st
September 1914, as having been taken over form the French Consul in Maskat.
2 . The attached Tabular Statement A shews in concise form how the total
number of weapons of different calibres has been disposed of. It calls for
remarks in the following particulars :—
(u) Grand Total .—This is shewn in the statement as 8,952 weapons, whereas
the total number shewn in paragraph 3 of my letter No. 209, dated
the 1 st September 1914, as having been taken over is 8,950 —a discre
pancy of 2 in excess. I very much regret to state that I am at present
unable to explain how this apparent surplus of two rifles, which
are of the Mauser seven m-m pattern, has arisen.
During the operations of repacking the last bach of rifles for Woolwich it was
found that there were two rifles over and above the book total. Whe
ther these two rifles are actually in excess or only apparently so owing
to some inadvertant omission, which I much regret, during the
process of repacking, cannot be definitely known until reports are
received from Kirkee, Woolwich, and Muhammerah as to the number
each of the above places received. If the surplus of two then still
exists I can only suggest that the French Consul and the Committee
at the time of handing and-, taking over must have incorrectly counted
the contents of one or more of the cases.
( 6 ) Sold .—Under this head 214 rifles are shewn.
Of this number 30 Martinis were, with the permission of the Government of
India, sold to His Highness the Sultan, and 184 rifles of miscellaneous
bore, mostly Mauser 7 m-m, were sold to approved purchasers through
the Maskat Arms Warehouse (vide Statement B).
The total value realized on the 214 rifles was R,s. 14,039. In addition a certain
amount of ammunition has also been sold. A separate account of the
transactions under this head will be submitted in due course.
(c) Retained for Presents .—Only the five weapons mentioned in enclosure to
yo.ur Confidential letter No. 251 of 19th September 1914 to the Govern
ment of India were retained for presents, as the explanation of the
reference made by the Government of India in their telegram No.
910 S., dated the 5th October 1914, to your letter No. 263 of 23rd
1914 which did not exist in this office, did not reach me until after
the weapons had been repacked and despatched to Wool-wich.
Thus only five instead of eight weapons have been retained for presents.
3. A copy of this report is under despatch to the Honourable Secretary to the
Government of India, Foreign and Political Department.
India, Fokea; zi".
No 49 M, daitad
3 DEC 1914
\
■J 26 DEC 1914
v V
About this item
- Content
This part of the volume contains telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, notes, printed reports and two press cuttings relating to the arms traffic in Muscat and arrangements for its regulation.
Issues discussed include:
- acquisition from French dealers at Muscat of sample rifles and ammunition from the Gulf;
- disposal of the sample arms sent home from Muscat and their availability to collectors dealers;
- methods of disposing of the French dealers' stocks of arms at Jibuti [Djibouti] and Muscat after purchase;
- request of Monsieur Louis Dieu that purchased stocks may be removed from his premises;
- proposed utilisation of Muscat arms stocks in the 'Anglo-German War'.
The volume includes two statistical tables, 'Inventory of arms and ammunition in French Private Warehouses in Maskat' (ff 96-98; 91-92).
The principal correspondents in the volume include: the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Percy Zachariah Cox; the Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Muscat (Stuart George Knox; Robert Arthur Edward Benn); the Viceroy; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Edward Grey; the Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office; the Ambassador to France, Sir Francis Bertie; the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty; Commander-in-Chief, East Indies; the War Office; HM Paymaaster General;
The volume is part 7 of 7. Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (250 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 868 (Arms Traffic - Muscat) consists of 6 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/235-240. The volumes are divided into 7 parts with parts 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 comprising one volume each and parts 4 and 5 comprising a volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 250; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 868/1912 Pt 7 'Arms Traffic: Muscat Arms. - Disposal of. Sample Arms from Muscat. French stocks at Muscat.' [56r] (118/508), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/240, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038210575.0x000077> [accessed 12 May 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/240
- Title
- File 868/1912 Pt 7 'Arms Traffic: Muscat Arms. - Disposal of. Sample Arms from Muscat. French stocks at Muscat.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 1r:250v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence