'Report on the Arms Traffic, 1st July 1911 to 30th June 1913 (including a note on the operations of the Makran Field Force in April and May 1911)' [‎6r] (11/44)

CONFIDENTIAL.
REPORT ON THE ARMS TRAFFIC.
Summary for the 2 Seasons, July 1st 1911 to June 30th 1913.
1. General review.
In spite of there having been no relaxation in the measures adopted for try
ing to stifle the arms trade in the Gulf, it must be acknowledged that it was
more flourishing than ever, up to September 1912 ; after that however the trade
declined rapidly.
The major part of the trade shifted even still further west in 1912 ; and
most landings were effected between Bushire and Lingeh.
Consignments were sent overland from Masqat, Sohar and Matrah to Dibai
Sharjah and Abu Dhabi and thence shipped across the Gulf.
The result was that the tribesmen of Fars armed themselves with, modern
rifles, and became quite out of hand. In March 1912, in consequence of a capture
by the navy of about 480 rifles, destined for the tribes of Laristan, a large body of
tribesmen gathered, and threatened Lingeh.
After the attack on the Central India Horse at Kazarun in December 1911
a close blockade was instituted over the Tangistan coast, but this, though
diminishing the supply of ammunition, did not wholly suppress it, and rifles and
ammui ition we-e sold openly in Shiraz during the summer of 1912.
Towards the end of the season 1911-12 the trade became perceptibly brisker,
in view of the possible cessation of supply under the new warehouse scheme.
Traders wished to get their arms on to the market, before the market was closed.
After September, however, when the warehouse regulations came into opera
tion, the imports into Masqat fell off considerably. Traders still had large stocks
to dispose of, and, as prices rose, they found nakhudas quite willing to take risks.
All authorities concerned were agreed, at the end of 1912, that it was impossi
ble to relax the blockade measures in any way ; and the sanction of His Majesty’s
Government was accorded to their continuance on full scale for 1913-14.
At the beginning of 1913 a diminution of gun-running became apparent, and
by March stocks of arms m Masqat fell to a very low figure.
Afghans also were less inclined, owing to a variety of causes, to venture on
the trip to Makran.
The Sultan of Masqat co-operated willingly and well in supporting the
regulations, and on March 29th the thanks of His.Majesty’s Government were
conveyed to him. In June, however, he suffered for his loyalty to Government
by being threatened with a serious revolution in ’Oman. British troops were
sent to protect Masqat and Matrah on July 9th.
2. Abstract of Statistics for 1909-13, 1st July to 30th June.
Imported
into
Masqat.
Landed in
SOUTBERN
Persia.
Captured
etc.
Unaccounted
for.
Year.
Rifles.
Ammun
ition.
Rifles.
Ammun
ition.
Rifles.
Ammun
ition.
Rifles.
Ammun
ition.
1909-10
54,000
Million.
14
20,476
2 million
12,626
2,142,110
21,000
Million.
10
1910-11
14,000
5
2,817
273,000
1,237
245,923
10,000
4J
1911-12
32,000
12
10,319*
484,000*
2,332
57,6169
9,300
lit
1912-13
7,406
8
7,115
989,000
2,532
1,275,993
••
6
♦Mostly landed on the Shibkuh coast, near Lingeh.
S5GSB