'The Illicit Trade in Arms and Ammunition Between the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan' [‎3r] (5/36)

1. It is not necessary to rewrite the political aspects, and the past history
of the Arms Trade in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . This has been fully and completely
discussed by Mr. Lorimer in his memorandum on “ The Arms and Ammuni
tion Traffic in_ the Gulfs of Persia and Oman The various Appendices here
however deal with the history of the trade in detail during the past two years.
2. The trade during the past three years has increased enormously having
nearly quadrupled itself in that time. The Consular Trade Report for
Masqat for 1905-06 gives the total value of the arms trade as Rs. 1,074,380
and that of 1907*08 as Rs. 4,185,390 {vide Appendix IV).
3. The fact is also apparent that the coming of the Hamburg American
steamers to the Gulf has given an immense impetus to this trade on the
Continent, and that the greater proportion of the trade is falling into the hands
of non-English manufacturers, (For details vide Appendix V.)
4. During the past year serious steps have been taken to stop the import of
arms into Persia, but with very small results, namely a couple of dhows captured
by the Navy, and one or two small shiploads thrown overboard by dhows
when chased. What little success there has been has resulted from the efforts
of Mr. New of the Indo-European Telegraph Department, who has instituted
a system of guards along the Makran coast to watch the gun-runners. A short
resume of the scheme will be found in Appendix I.
5. The Persians were also induced to make an attempt to stop the
caravans between the coast and the Afghan Border, but the results effected
were nil. A history of the action taken will be found in Appendix III.
6. The accompanying map illustrates the routes which the individual
arms caravans were reported to have taken between the coast and the Afghan
border. Appendix II contains all particulars available regarding the caravans.
^yC 7 - Jhe double company at Robat was this year (1908) reinforced by 500
men whilst the caravans were on the move, and the Jashk detachment was in-
forced by 2oo men owing to rumours that the gun-runners intended to revenge
themselves on the posts for injuries and losses sustained at the hands of the
Navy during the present year, and at the hands of the Robat detachment during
the past year.
8. To sum up ; the traffic has increased to an enormous extent during
the past twelve months, and all steps taken to interfere with it have proved
ineffectual. The Navy appear to admit that they are practically powerless to
accomplish anything with the means at their disposal, the Persians have proved
that they are helpless, the detachment at Robat has shown that it can do nothing
to interfere with the progress of the caravans, whilst the proceedings at the
Brussels Arms Conference have not as yet afforded much hope of a satisfactory
settlement.
9. From the accompanying appendices the following figures have been
arrived at.
1906.
—
Rifles.
Percentage.
Ammunition.
Percentage.
Total imports into Masqat ,,,
40,000
...
9 , 300,000
• ••
Exported to Makran coast ... ...
3U75
8
Nil.
• ••
Exported to other places ...
14,700
37
3 , 210,000
35
Unaccounted for
22,125
55
6 , 090,000
65