'File XXV/2 Arabian Affairs (including Iraq). Qatar and al Hassa (Bin Saud)' [‎22r] (43/56)

CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 23 (Confl.), dated Bushire, the 4th (received the 12th) January 1914.
From —J. G. Lorimer, Esq M C.I.E., Officiating 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 Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Delhi.
I have the honour to forward, for the information of the Government of India,
No. T.-806, dated the 20th December 1913. a co Py th® letter, marginally noted, which
‘ . has been received from the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency.
at Bahram in regard to a request of Bin Saud for a pass authorising him to procure
certain arms and ammunition.
No action seems possible at the present time, but the fetter amplifies the
remark made in paragraph 11 of the enclosure to my letter No. 24, dated the 4th
January 1914, while for an earlier notice of Bin Saud's relation to the arms trade
I would refer you to my predecessors letter No. 1669, dated the 26th May 1913.
No. T.-806 (Confl.), dated Bahrain, the 20th December 1913.
From Major A. P. Trevor, C.I.E., Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain,
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To—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 Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire.
I have the honour to report that in the course of a conversation at Ojair on the
16th instant. Bin Saud asked me if I could give him a pass authorising him to
procure from Muskat, for the use of his forces, 4,000 Martini Rifles and Carbines,
of which 1,000 should be Martini Metfords, with 400 rounds of ammunition per rifle.
2. In reply, I informed him that I had no power to grant such a pass, but
that I would refer the matter to you. Bin Saud enquired when a pass or an answer
to his request could be obtained. I replied that as the number of arms applied for
was a large one, it was probable that the question might have to be referred to the
Government, which would naturally entail some delay in getting a reply. I also
added that it was possible that the answer might also be delayed by the question
whether such a pass could be granted at the present moment, in view of his diffi
culties with the Turkish Government, and of the neutrality of the British
Government in the dispute—possibly the grant of such a pass might be considered
an infringement of neutrality.
3. I am not, of course, in a position to make any useful remarks on this point,
but I think that Bin Saud s request shows that he wishes to co-operate with us in
respect of the Arms Traffic, and (leaving aside the question of neutrality), I would
respectfully suggest that it would be advisable to encourage Bin Saud to obtain his
arms in a legitimate manner. Otherwise, he will doubtless attempt to smuggle
them by sea or overland from Muskac if he can obtain any there, or he may get them
fiom Jibutil to some port on the Red Sea and thence overland across Arabia.
4. Bin Saud stated, and Captain Shakespear confirmed the statement from
personal experience, that modern small bore magazine rifles afe useless to Arabs
in the desert, as the sand speedily makes the mechanism useless. There is also
the objection of the impossibility of re-charging the cartridges for such "weapons.
For these reasons Bin Saud requires Martinis for his men, and for the same reasons
the considerable number of magazine rifles recently captured from the Turks are
practically useless to him.
5. I may add that Bin Saud gave me most explicit assurances that the arms
were required solely for the use of his armed forces, and were not in any way
for trade purposes and would not be sold.
6. If the pass cannot be granted now, I venture to suggest that it might be
givsn when the negotiations between Bin Saud and the Turkish Government are
completed, or are in a fair way to settlement.
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