File 869/1904 Pt 2 'Arms Traffic: - Red Sea, Africa and Aden' [‎238r] (484/540)

No. 2149, dated Bombay Castle, the 19th March 1906.
; From—The Hon’ble Sir S. W. Edqerlet, K.C.V.O., C.I.E., Chief 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 reply to Mr. Somers Cock’s letter No. 1535-E.B., dated
the 24th April 1905, on the subject of the proposed amendment of the Aden
Sea Traffic in Arms Regulation, 1902,
2. The amendments proposed by the Government of India have been
carefully considered and are, in the opinion of His Excellency the Governor in
Council, generally desirable. I am to offer the following observations on the
Regulation as amended thereby.
3. In paragraph 26 of his No. 265, dated the 14th January 1906,
forwarded with my No.^1805, dated the 5th March 1906, the Resident expresses
the fear that the effect of enforcing the provisions of section 7 is to make Aden
an unpopular port for native craft, and as the local authorities of the French
and Italian Governments on the Red Sea littoral show a disinclination to co
operate fully in similar measures for the suppression of the arms traffic in the
Gulf of Aden, His Excellency is inclined to agree with the Resident that this
provision had better be dropped. In his opinion it will go far to defeat the
objects of the Regulation if native boats avoid Aden, as all registration and
the success of the provisions as to port clearance, and as to selected and pres
cribed ports depend on the periodical visit to Aden, and while these provisions
still remain operative the provisions of section 7 can perhaps be foregone.
4. I am to point out that the new Regulation omits any provision similar
to that provided in section 4 (3) of the old Regulation. It appears to His
Excellency desirable to provide that boats should, subject to stress of weather,
go direct to the places for which they take out a port clearance.
5. The necessity for the change of the phrase “ any places in the Gulf of
Aden ” to “ any places on the coast line on the Guff of Aden is not apparent,
and though the matter is not of great importance, I am to say that uniformity
of expression throughout the Regulation seems desirable.
6. I am to invite attention to the copy of the Somaliland Regulation
and to the other accompaniments to the Resident’s letter No. 265, da e e
14th January 1906, forwarded with my letter No. 1805, dated the 5th March
1906. It will be seen from paragraph 14 of appendix D that Lord
Lansdowne has cancelled paragraph VII of the Somaliland Regulation which
seemed to be of the same tenour as that of paragraph 3 of Foreign Department
letter No. 108*E.A., dated the 13th January 1902 , exempting vessels flying the
French flag from search. I am to suggest for consideration, with reference to
your No^935-E.B., dated the 27 th February 1906, that this Regulatimi would
be a suitable place in which to provide provisions for the guidance of officers on
the spot similar to those to be found m Part III of the bonaaliland Regula
tion, but with such modifications as the Government of Indl ^“ a ^f f e [®j
laying down what right of stoppage and search of dhows entering the temtonal
waters of the Aden Protectorate local officers may exercise and what powers of
ultimate disposal of dhows or arms seized and other punishment of owners of
dhows flying foreign colours and committing breaches of our Regulation local
Courts may exercise. _ . . ,
7 I am further to suggest that a clause might be added giving the
Resident power to make, fubjeet to the control o£ the Goyernor of Bombay m
Council, rules for marking, licensing and registering and depositing ai ms earned
for purposes of defence on all native vessels trading from and to Ade “
from other British protected ports in the Gulf of Aden. Only native craft
which comply with the conditions of the Brussels Convention, such as
have papers!a y flag and some recognized authority to whom report can be made
under that Convention for withdrawal of protection, should be recognized
permitted to carry arms.