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‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’ [‎6r] (16/128)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (60 folios). It was created in 1909. It was written in English and French. 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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* at fnrtt of next DEC’e.
I• It is not necessary to rewrite the political aspects, and the past history
of the Arms Trade in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . This has been fully and completely
discussed by Mr. Lorimer in his memorandum on “ The Arms and Ammunition
Traffic in the Gulfs of Persia and Oman The various Appendices herein,
however, deal with the history of the trade in detail during the past three years.
2. The trade during the last few years has increased enormously, having
nearly quadrupled itself. The Consular Trade Report for Masqat for 1905-06
gives the total value of the arms trade as Rs. 1,074,380 and, that of 1907-08 as
Rs. 4,185,390 {vide Appendix IV).
3. The fact is also apparent that the coming of the Hamburg American
steamers to the Gulf has given an immense impetus to this trade on the Conti
nent, and that a large proportion of the trade is falling into the hands of
non-English manufacturers. (For details vide Appendix V.)
4. During the last two years attempts have been made to stop the import of
arms into Persia, but with comparatively small results. A couple of dhows were
captured by the Navy, and one or two small shiploads thrown overboard by
dhows when chased in 1908, but in March 1909 two dhows with 1,550 rifles and
170,000 rounds on board were seized on the high seas. What little success there
has been is due to the efforts of Mr. New of the Indo-European Telegraph
Department, who has instituted a system of guards along the Makran coast to
watch the gun-runners. A short resume of the scheme will be found in
Appendix I.
5. The Persians were also induced to make an attempt to stop the caravans
between the coast and the Afghan Border, but the results effected were nil. A
history of the action taken will be found in Appendix III. Appendix II contains
all particulars available regarding the caravans, and the routes followed by them.
6. The double company at Robat was in 1908 increased by 500 men whilst
the caravans were on the move, and the Jashk detachment was reinforced by 200
men owing to rumours that the gun-runners intended to avenge themselves on
the posts for injuries and losses sustained at the hands of the Navy during that
year, and at the hands of the Robat detachment during the previous one The
garrisons at Robat and Jashk remained at 200 and 100 men respectively during
the 1908-09 season.
7. To sum up ; the traffic has increased to an enormous extent during the past
three years, and all steps taken materially to interfere with it have proved ineffec
tual. The Navy appear to admit that they are practically powerless to accomplish
much with the means at their disposal, the Persians have proved that they are
helpless, the detachment at Robat has shown that it can do nothing to interfere
with the progress of the caravans, whilst the proceedings at the Brussels Arms
Conference have not as yet afforded any hope of a satisfactory settlement.
8. From the accompanying appendices the following figures have been
arrived at.
1906.

Rifles.
Percentage
(of imports).
Ammunition.
Percentage.
tTotal imports into Masqat
...
40 000
...
9 , 30->,000
...
•Exported to Makran coast
...
...
3.175
8
Nil
...
Exported to other places
...
...
14,700
37
3 , 210,000
35
Unaccounted for ...
• •1
...
22,125
55
6 , 090,000
65

About this item

Content

Bound volume containing two secret reports, both authored by Colonel Wilfrid Malleson (referred to as Division of the Chief of the Staff in the first report, and Assistant Quarter Master General for Intelligence in the second), and both issued by the Division of the Chief of the Staff in 1909.

The first report is entitled Statistics regarding the Masqat [Muscat] Arms Traffic (Revised.) (ff 4-16), and contains several appendices and fold-out tables giving details of: caravan routes along which arms trafficking is carried out on the Makran coast; total values of arms and ammunition imported into Muscat and other Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports; importers and (European) exports of arms.

The second report is entitled Special Reports on the Masqat Arms Traffic, Season 1908-09 (ff 17-60), and comprises a number of reports on the arms trade through Muscat, submitted by ‘secret agents’, and a map illustrating the arms traffic from Muscat to Persia, Baluchistan and Afghanistan (f 59). The report also includes two appendices, lettered G and H. Appendix G is a letter (in French) dated 28 October 1907, from M Pick to Messieurs Malcom and Company of Muscate [Muscat]. Appendix H comprises lists (in French) of arms for sale, with prices given in French francs.

The voluime includes a map illustrating the Muscat arms traffic, dated 1909, indicating routes taken by the Muscat arms trade from the Persian (Makran) coast and inland, into Persia, Baluchistan and Afghanistan (f 59).

Extent and format
1 volume (60 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 62; 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.

Pagination: this part also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’ [‎6r] (16/128), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/289/A, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100049315702.0x000011> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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