'File XXIX/2 Slavery in Kuwait' [‎134r] (267/296)

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(Received with Bushire endorsement No. 65-5j 191-1II, dated the 12th January 1928.)
Letter erom the Hon’ble 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. in the Persian Gulp,
to His Majesty's Minister, Tehran, No. 5—64-5/191-111, dated the 12th
January 1928.
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• 1
I have the honour to state that in an accompanying despatch to the Govern
ment of India No. 66-5/191-III, dated the 12th January 1928 [Serial No. (24)],
I report with reference to the general slave question that there is little traffic in
slaves in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . I am, however, bringing the following incidents to
your notice in order that should you desire you may be in a position to approach
the Persian Government with the facts that exist in Persian Baluchistan.
2. On the 1st August a slave woman came into the Concession at Jask and
claimed protection from the Officer in charge of the Indo-European Telegraph
Department on the ground of having been ill-treated by her owner.
The owner arrived with ten armed men whom he left outside the village and
demanded the return of the woman, who was handed over to the Persian autho
rities in accordance with regulations.
The Mudir bf the Customs, who is the chief Persian official, refused to hand over
the woman. The owner of the slave left with a threat that he would capture any
Jaskis he found outside the town and failing this would attack the town. On the
evening of the 2hd the son of a Persian in British employ was, with his wife and
some other Persians connected with British employees, carried off to the hills along
with 80 goats. The persons concerned were not entitled to British protection.
On news of this being received the Officer Commanding, Persian Troops, sent
out twelve soldiers to obtain the release of the captives and himself followed later
with another six men with no result, possibly owing to the fact that the Baluchis
are too well armed.
The latter stated that as soon as their slave woman was L released they also
would re 1 ease their captives and the goats. Finally the Mudir sent back the woman,
and the Baluchis equally released their captives and the goats they had captured.
As nothing short of a campaign—and the Persian have for some years boggled
against a campaign against the Baluchis-would have done much good and as Jask
is°not in a position to start a campaign by itself, I am inclined to think that the
Mudir at Jask did wisely, since where so many slaves exist one hardly affects the
principle involved and his refusal might have resulted in loss of lives of people un
connected with the incident.
3. In the middle of the same month the Superintendent, Telegraph Station,
Jask, reported *to the Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Section, that three females with two
children came into Jask from Gabreg and with the permission of the Persian
Commandant there took shelter near the fort. The owners of the slaves on hearing
the news sent in four armed men to the Commandant demanding the return of the
slaves and threatening to use force if their demands were not complied with. Dur
ing this time 25 armed men were said to be waiting at Ekdar and another ten at
Looran to advance in the event of armed resistance being offered by the Military.
The Commandant without opposition delivered up the slaves and the party left
Jask without trouble.
4. This report was referred bj me to His Majesty’s Consul, Bandar Abbas,
with instructions to discuss the affair with the Officer Commanding, Bandar Abba*,
in whose command the Jask garrison is situated and to find out what he had to say
in the matter. His Majesty’s Consul, Bandar Abbas, was at Karachi at the time
and his Head Clerk could not get any definite information in the matter from the
Officer Commanding who questioned his right to enquire into the subject and also
his accuracy in stating that we had this right under Treaty. _ The Officer Command
ing left Bandar Abbas in October Jast, but I am requesting Mr. Chick to discuss
the matter with the General Officer Commanding at Shiraz so that officers should be
aware of our rights on the subject.
5. According to a later report, the present Commandant at Jask refused to
deliver pp a number of slaves who had similarly taken c bast ’ at the place about two
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