File 869/1904 Pt 3 'Arms traffic: Red Sea, Africa and Aden' [‎167r] (338/444)

No. 5238, dated Bombay Castle, the 30th July 1909 (Confidential).
From—J. H. DuBoulay, Esq., C.I.E., Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions.
Political Department,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
In reply to your letter No. 371 dated the 10th March 1909, regard-
ing flaws which exist in the
17 th “ Politic,1 Ee ' ide ” t ' Ade ”' N °' °- 92 ' d ‘“ the Hegulations at Aden as to the
Letter 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. , Aden, No. 3799, dated the 27th local dllOW traffic, I am dilCCt-
Letter from 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. , Aden, No. C.—155, dated the ^ Copies of the
26 th June 1909 . marginally noted correspond
ence.
2. It does not appear that m either of these cases any irregularities were
permitted by the Harbour Police and Customs at Aden. Such irregularties as
occurred took place after the vessels had left Aden and were beyond the control
of the Aden authorities.
3. In the case of the Italian dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. the Master was prosecuted at Berhera
for a breach of the Somaliland Customs Regulations*—the facts of the case
were also communicated to the Italian Consul-General at Aden, who ordered
the forfeiture of the bond.
4. In the case of the English dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. the breach of Customs Regulations
was, as a matter of fact, prevented. But the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. was sent to Aden to be prose
cuted for making a false declaration of its cargo and destination and a conviction
was obtained.
5. In neither case, therefore, is it accurate to say there was a flaw in the
Local Regulations, but at the same time I am to express the full concurrence
of His Excellency the Governor in Council with the views expressed in para
graphs 5 and 6 of the secret letter, dated 27th February 1909, from the Com
missioner of Somaliland to the Colonial Office, which are reproduced below
for ready reference:—
“ 5. These two instances are no doubt typical of similar cases, which
would otherwise pass undetected were it not for the special
restrictive measures which are at present in force on the coast
line east of Berbera. They do not, however, so much disclose
flaws in the existing Regulations, which are, in my opinion, as
stringent as it is possible to make them, as they illustrate defects
in the machinery available for enforcing them.
“ 6. These defects can only be remedied by placing responsible agents
at the principal ports of call, both on the Arabian littoral and
on the opposite African coast, and by regularly patroliing the
intermediate coast line between those ports. Such measures,
however, could only be regarded as expensive makeshifts, and
would not go to the root of the evil. Until restrictions can be
applied at the sources of the arms traffic, namely, at Jibouti in
the case of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and at Maskat
in the case of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , arms and ammunition will
continue to leak through in spite of local regulations ”.
No. C.—92, dated the 17th April 1909 (Confidential).
From— Major-General E. DeBrath, C.B., C.I.E., 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. , Aden,
To—The Acting Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , Political Department.
With reference to your endorsement No. 2009, dated the 18th March
1909, forwarding copies of correspondence relative to certain flaws which have
been reported to exist in the Aden Regulations as to local dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. traffic, I have
the honour to state that it is not clear to me on what grounds Captain Hunt
considered the two instances quoted by him to be irregularities on the part of
the Harbour Police and the Customs authorities at Aden,