File 869/1904 Pt 2 'Arms Traffic: - Red Sea, Africa and Aden' [‎84v] (177/540)

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17. I do not recommend that effect should be given to the suggestion to
exchange seized arms for arms of Government bore. If any action is desired
to induce the larger Chiefs to interest themselves in making seizures, T would
recommend that seized arms be purchased at market rates, and thereupon
destroyed or disposed of as Government choose. This would be a more eco
nomical course than the proposed exchange.
18. Colonel Scallon has left it upon record that General Swayne was in
favour of arming certain of the Protectorate Tribes, and of enforcing a dis
armament of all others, and he was inclined to favour a similar policy for this
Protectorate. He considered further that the Chiefs of this Protectorate should
he required to disarm all their subjects, except those employed in their police,
or other regular armed forces, who should, he thought, be armed with rifles of
Government bore. He opined that it would, in the long run, prove economical
if Government gave the Chiefs a monetary inducement to agree to this
action.
19. There is a fair reason to suppose that the general arming of the tribes
of this Protectorate with weapons of precision may entail serious trouble and
expense in the future, and this is a point to wnich 1 would invite the special consi
deration of Government, as quite distinct from the requirements of Somaliland.
And with a view to securing the co-operation of the Chiefs, it would seem
advisable to, at the outset, reduce the cost price of weapons of Government bore
to a minimum, and to even sell them at some loss with a view to securing their
introduction.
20. The question of the disarmament of petty tribes and of other than
regular or quasi-regular forces is, of course, a serious one, and might quite
possibly entail grave difficulties and expense. It is, however, worth considera
tion, as possibly saving far greater trouble and expense at a later date. It is
a measure which I commend to Government as worthy of careful and early
consideration.
21. In this connection I would here mention that Colonel Scallon has also
left it upon record that, with a view to checking the Nakhudas of country craft
from carrying arms, nominally, for protection, but really for sale, he considered
that all arms thus allowed to be carried should be marked and registered, and
also entered on the vessel’s manifest. This measure, to be successful, would
need the co-operation of not only both British and Italian Somaliland, but also
of Turkey, and of the Indian coasts and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. authorities.
22. In regard to other protective and preventive measures, I have the
honour to state that I agree with Colonel Scallon in considering that very little
really effective action can be taken by H. M. S. stationed at Aden to check the
illicit arms traffic. A man-of-war is too large and too valuable to be taken
about where coral reefs abound. Her boats and pinnaces are unable to overtake
a fast sailing dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. . Her movements cannot be sufficiently secret and unobserved,
to be really effective. Past experience on these coasts has proved how very
little she can really do.
23. I strongly recommend to Government the early purchase and establish
ment of two or three commodious armed dhows fitted with petrol motors, and
manned, if possible, by officers and lascars A term used by the British officials to describe non-European sailors employed on East India Company ships. of the Royal Indian Marine. I
would propose to post one or two of these to Aden, and another to Perim,
instead of, or in addition to, the launch already recommended for that Island
in this office £io. 5987, dated the 1st instant.
24. I make this recommendation, after very careful consideration, as the
best means of effectively dealing with the matter. The dhows could move
freely in all waters and in all weathers during which arms dhows run. The
attached motor would render her independent of the breeze, and add to her
speed in order to overtake suspicions looking craft. Her movements would
attract little attention, and she could proceed unobserved all round the coasts
at frequent and uncertain intervals.
xP 16 vesse ^ s °fficered and manned by the Royal Indian Marine would
e directly under the orders of the Government of India, whose officers have
experience of Natives of the East, and are accustomed to deal with Native
crews, ihe vessels could be attached to the Royal Indian Marine vessels