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Coll 7/36 'Afghanistan: sale of 1914 pattern rifles to the Afghan government; incidence of liability between Indian and Imperial revenues' [‎206r] (412/542)

The record is made up of 1 file (270 folios). It was created in 13 Jul 1935-3 Mar 1939. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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F';l E CORY
c> r
SECRET
jgs/frb/cw/fcr/'to
(COPIES
CIRCRLATED)
I C I
( 187 groups, )
DECTPHBR OF TELEGRAM.
From
Y
4779,
His Majesty 3 s Minister at Kabul
to Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs* India Officeo
Kabul, through Peshawar, 8th September,
1935 0
Dated
Received 4 pom 0 , 8th September, 1935 0
XXX
v ^
IMPORTANT o
Forminka 75o
2 0 At interview today. Military Attache and I
discussed the 1914 rifle further with War Minister on the
lines of paragraphs (?2) to 4 of your teiegranu He seemed
attracted by offer as now put to him, but deferred decision
till after discussion with Cabineto
3 0 He asked for samples 0 I suggest 2 rifles
might be sent by air 0
4 0 He raised question of supplying 30,000 units
asked for 0 I said I only had authority to discuss supplying of
15,000, of which 5,000 had been receivedo War Minister said
that full (?30,000) were urgently required to complete
armaments of Afghan Army, and that question of whether he
would ask for 1914 rifle or newest model depended to a
considerable extent on whether His Majesty*s Government
would supply Afghan Government with 15,000 or 30,000 units*
In. any case payment could only be made by instalments 0
5* This question will come up again next week when
1/Var Minister wishes to discuss matter further* I should be
glad of early instructions as to line I am to take* War
Minister stated that for army of 50,000 they now had
250,000 (sic)
^$000

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Content

This file is a continuation of Collection 7/23, reference IOR/L/PS/12/2191. It contains correspondence between the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of State for India, HM Minister at Kabul, the War Office, the Government of India Foreign and Political Department, and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Political Department, regarding requests for rifles and ammunition received from the Afghan Government.

The opening correspondence concerns an Afghan Government request for 10,000 rifles and 6 million rounds of ammunition, and covers the following topics: the possibility of supplying 1914 pattern rifles from War Office surplus stocks, plus .303 Mk VII ammunition; Afghan concerns over the quality of the older rifles; payment options; Afghan overtures to arms manufacturers in Czechoslovakia; the possible provision of aircraft and training; and the need to compensate Messrs Soley Armament Company for any 1914 pattern rifles sold.

The bulk of the correspondence concerns arrangements over the division of liability between the British Government and the Government of India for extraordinary expenditure on Afghanistan, and the Afghan Reserve Fund. A memorandum providing details of the Fund can be found at folios 67-71.

At the end of the file it is agreed to supply a further 25,000 1914 pattern-rifles, plus ammunition, over six scheduled payments. The Government of India agree to assume liability for out of pocket expenditure (commission to the Soley Armament Company, plus inspection, packing and freight charges) in respect of rifles not wholly paid for at the time of any default on payment.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the end of the correspondence (folio 2).

Extent and format
1 file (270 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in rough chronological order from the rear to the front of the file

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 270; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 7/36 'Afghanistan: sale of 1914 pattern rifles to the Afghan government; incidence of liability between Indian and Imperial revenues' [‎206r] (412/542), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2203, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100043047982.0x00000d> [accessed 29 April 2024]

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