File 3372/1916 Pt 2 'Arabia: French and Italian policy' [‎83v] (175/498)

i flip Allies. It micflit be
improbable, she elects to thr0 " d 1 ‘ 1 ^ f om t l ie Chinese, through the
desirable »o obtam - ^ .md^tak hon g ^ anv j scale in the
diplomatic channel, (0 not to British r „dian Empire ; and (n) to
Provinces bordering on i lbet _ a “ , smuceling of arms and amiminition
use their best endeavours t° P' p ' . ' w ^ e n0 ot her recommendations
across the Indo-Chinese hind rontieis. ^ Kast plays at present
to make under this head. 1 £ke < understand our terms of
an inconsiderable part m ^ «J C t0 consider, viz., the supply
reference, we have been paitic c are or nia y be, in a position
of arms and ammunition to snc i m and ^d government of some part of
to employ them against the l ■ r .„„ r( i Japan China and the Dutch hast
His Majesty’s dominions. u n © the Philippines as a potential source
Indies, and in a lesser degree Siam and the Ihihppnms Indies
of danger to the British possessions m the Eas^^lhe for raism ,,
are known to have been uti isu a» < p received of attempts
to smuggle pistolb, . 10 1 i te( 5 a surreptitious traffic of serious
is possible that, it precaution c » countries The only permanent
remedy appear to lie m etieci [ possible to secure the active
With regard to China, b oy vm, .t ought^to be possib ^ in
co-operation ^ res are not less concerned than Great
^rHaii^in controlling the arms traffic-in outlying provinces of the Chinese
Empire.
CONCLUSION.
b We desire to close our Report with a note of caution. ^ e are undei
no iilusions as to the perinanent value of any international Convention,
however skilfully framed. Examples of the futihty ot a scrap o Papei,
when it conflicts with the determination of an indy.dual State to act as it.
interests or necessities dictate, are not far to seek, i he most that can ne
expected of such agreements as we have recommendeil is that they
prove reasonably effective for a certain number of yeais alter the "ai, amt
hat the principle of international co-operation, once firmly established, n a\
afford a valuable basis for such further joint action as future deielopnients
may render desirable. But even this modest anticipation may prove undulj
optimistic, unless real community of interest can be established between the
contracting parties, or-failing that-unless His Majesty s Government, as
the Power mainly interested in the Conventions, is m a position to enfoice
the due fulfilment of their terms. In any case it is essential that the regu
lations already in force in various parts of the British Empire (c-j.,
United Kingdom, India, Egypt, &c.) for controlling the supply of firearms
should in no circumstances be relaxed. On the contrary, there wdl e\er\
where he a need for greater vigilance, and for more stringent sateguar s
against illicit distribution.
10. In submitting our Report we desire to place on record our great
indebtedness to the skilled assistance which we have received from our
Secretary, Mr. J. E. Shuckburgh, of 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. , whose services
throughout have been of the highest value.
Islington.
A. Henry McMahon.
Edmond J. W. Slade.
W. Tyrrell.
H. J. Read.
Lancelot Storr.
S. S. W. Paddon, Major, G.S.
J. E. SilUCKBLRGU, Secretary,
10th March 1917.