File 869/1904 Pt 2 'Arms Traffic: - Red Sea, Africa and Aden' [‎91r] (190/540)

28.
Asa matter of fact, of course, Regulation III stiould have been modified
accordingly to include the Mijjertein coast. It was not; and it follows, I think,
that no prosecution is possible under Regulation III for breach of any of the
provisions of that Regulation affecting the Mijjertein coast only. As far as
that coast is concerned the only means of enforcing compliance with local rules
lay in the security bonds furnished to the Italian Consulate which, the Italian
Consul could presumably forfeit in the event of a breach of his terms being
proved to his satisfaction.
But as far as the coast of British Somaliland east of Berbera and
places on the Arabian coast of the Gulf of Aden are concerned, local rules can,
of course, be enforced and prosecutions where necessary conducted, under e
Regulation III, of all dhows, Mijjertein as well as others. li a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. touched
at one of our ports, she is bound by our rules whether she is proceeding else
where or not. Dhows visiting British Somaliland at all are bound by our ru es
to call at certain prescribed ports and not to proceed from that or other ports m
British Somaliland without the permission of the proper authority at tne
prescribed port.
Such dhows should be bound over before they leave Aden imder section 3
of the Regulation, and on their return should be dealt with, 11 necessary,
under section 4 (2). # t .
The mere fact of their touching at Italian ports after visiting British
ports cannot be held to free them from this liability. In that case the Regu
lation would be useless.
Further, it was, as above pointed out, the obvious intention of the Italian
Consul, in 1902, that the Mijjertein coast should be treated as under our rules.
And there is therefore no claim on the part of Italy that their ports shou e
allowed to be a place of refuge for evasion of our rules, etc.
On the 9th January 1908, I see that Colonel Ashby informed the Italian
Consul that the understanding as to security being furnished to him on y
affected dhows proceeding to the Mijjertein coast, and pointed out t a ows
proceeding to Mokalla and the Arabian coast should of course furnish y
direct to us. It is of course equally clear that dhows proceeding to British
Somaliland, east of Berbera, should also furnish security direct to us.
Since the understanding above referred to was arrived at, the only modi
fication has been that, in October of 1S03, a port, Bunder Kassim, ac ua 7 ^
established by the Italian authorities on the Mijjertein coast, ibis, accora-
ingly for Italian dhows, took the place of Hais.
Bunder Kassim in fact became for Italian Somaliland a prescribed port
like Berbera, Karam and Hais are for British Somaliland.
Upon this being effected there was still more cause for Regulation III to
be so modified as to include Italian Somaliand. This was not, however,
In his letter, dated 27th October 1908, Signor Olivio simply said that it
was agreed that henceforth dhows intending to deal with the ports o a 1
Somaliland should first call at Bunder Kassim, and should no ea ®
leave Aden until their papers had been signed by the Italian Consu ar au ^ *
He did not say until they had furnished security to first call at Bunder
Kassim, etc. But that, of course, was part of the former uuderstan i .
remained. It should have been simplified. On the 28th October, „ i.
Consul was asked whether he wished all dhows proceeding to j tal i aa
land to have their papers vised at his Consulate or only Mijjertein n,
answer appears to have been received to this. There was scope
understanding. . ,
As to port clearances, we only can furnish them in Aden. It is our P° r >
and we only can certify that all our regulations have been co! p •
Those now furnished by the Italian Consulate a v e £ or ; 0 f
understanding arrived at, the proper procedure should be ^ a hi
vessels manifested for Italian ports our clearances should be 3 US V1S ^ ^
Italian Consul before I sign them, and that they should also be accompanied
by a certificate of any security which they have furnished to e
Consulate. It would seem most convenient that a copy of the security »
which should be framed on the lines of ours, should be attached. It would