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‘Masqat Arms Traffic. 1908–1909.’ [‎18r] (40/128)

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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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JN compiling last year such official information as was available regarding
the Masqat Arms Traffic it was impossible not to be struck by the numerous
lacuna in our knowledge of that trade. An attempt has accordingly been made,
by means of special agents of the Intelligence Branch, to throw some light on the
many obscure points regarding which further information was most desirable.
The reports which follow give the results of our investigations down to the
present time. It is not claimed that they in any way exhaust the subject. On
the contrary, our enquiries are still proceeding, and we are endeavouring to trace
a few typical consignments of arms right through from the merchants of Masqat
to their ultimate destination—the hands of the frontier Pathan. But there will
probably be found in the reports now printed much information of value.
Attention may be invited to the original letters and quotations on pages 35 to 39,
which show at what marvellously cheap prices perfectly efficient rifles can be
shipped at European ports. The enormous profits which are made at every
stage ; the manner in which practically all Masqat, from the Sultan down to the
meanest of his subjects, has a direct interest in the trade ; the swindling of the
Sultan by his own officials; the falsification of returns whereby we must be left
more than ever in doubt regarding the real percentage of the traffic which finds its
way to the neighbourhood of our frontier; the methods adopted by the Afghan
and Pathan dealers in purchasing and shipping their arms ; and the facility with
which, apparently, arms can be smuggled into India itself—all these points will
be found in the reports which follow. In connection with these enquiries I paid
a brief visit to Masqat in March last, and was enabled to visit the sample rooms of
several of the rifle merchants and, accompanied by the owner, the outside of
M. Goguyer’s large warehouse, which certainly looked as if it contained the
100,000 arms which some of our informants speak of.
A further selection of these reports will be printed in due course. Meanwhile,
as our agents run very serious risks in carrying out their investigations, it is
particularly requested that this pamphlet be kept under lock and key, that it never
goes out of an officer’s hands, and that it be not quoted or alluded to in any way
except in secret papers.
W. MALLESON, Colonel,
Assistant Quarter Master General for Intelligence,

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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.’ [‎18r] (40/128), 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_100049315702.0x000029> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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