File 869/1904 Pt 2 'Arms Traffic: - Red Sea, Africa and Aden' [‎104v] (217/540)

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No. 5574, dated Bombay Castle, the 9tb August 1907 (Secret).
From— H. O. Quin, Esq., 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,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I am directed to forward herewith, for the information of the Government
of India, a copy of a letter No. 4502, dated the 20th July 1907, 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, and of its enclosures, on the subject of the illicit
traffic in arms.
2. I am to state that any remarks which this Government may have to
offer on the subject will be submitted to the Government of India hereafter.
No. 4502, dated Aden Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , the 20th July 1907 (Secret).
From— Colonel P. R. Legh, Acting 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 correspondence ending wdth my letter No. 4312, dated
the 13th instant, I have the honour to forward copy of another letter dated
the 11th idem and of its accompaniment which has now been received from
the Abdali Sultan on the subject of the illicit arms traffic.
2. Prom this it will be observed that a large consignment of 60,000 cart
ridges has recently been landed at Ras al Ara, where under the arrangement
referred to in Government Resolution No. 1818, dated the 22nd March 1899,
the Abdali Sultan is supposed to keep a post for the purpose of preventing such
imports; and that under present circumstances no check whatever is imposed
upon this traffic either by the Abdali Sultan himself or the Attifi Chief Saeed
ha Ali referred to in correspondence ending with this office letter No. 1803,
dated the 17th March 1907.
3. In the absence of other arrangements for the requisite supply of arms
and ammunition for his soldiery, there is little doubt that the Abdali Sultan
has for some time past connived at, if not actively participated in this traffic.
And the Attifi Chief is evidently still inclined to prefer the immediate profits
of a tax in kind to the prospects of an enhancement of stipend.
4. The Abdali Sultan’s present attitude is to entirely evade his own res
ponsibilities on the littoral, and to decline to interfere further with the traffic
in his owm territories in the absence of a better understanding with us on the
subject. And the nature of the Attifi Chief Saeed ha Ali is such that no
enhancement of stipend is likely to secure his real co-operation, in the absence
of measures to very strictly supervise it.
5. Under the circumstances, I can only recommend that, if Government
now desire the illicit traffic to be effectually checked, the earliest possible
measures should be taken to establish the posts and patrols which are really
requisite for the purpose.
Dated 30tli Jumad Awal 1325 (llth July 1907).
From— The Abdali Sultan,
To— Colonel P, R, Leget, Acting 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.
After compliments ,—We inform you, oh friend, that we have heard that
60,000 rounds of ammunition were landed by two buggalows in the Attifi
limits, where the Attifis have levied a tax in kind of about 3,600 rounds of
ammunition. We are much astonished to see that the people obtain whatever
ammunition they require for their rifles, while w'e are deprived of these advan
tages owing to the strict prohibition imposed by us against such import into our
territories : we expect what you will fix for us as sufficient monthly supply of
D ammunition for ourselves and tribesmen in accordance with the verbal promise
given to us by 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. . We believed that the sea-ports adjoining
riden were being guarded by you from the sea-side, but we see the contrary.
We further inform you that these 60,000 rounds of ammunition will not be
disposed of in the Subehi territories only, but will be disseminated all over our