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Coll 7/4 'Afghanistan: purchase of arms from Great Britain' [‎419r] (842/1146)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (568 folios). It was created in 2 Jan 1930-19 Feb 1935. 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. .

Transcription

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The Afghan Government have officially notified
His Majesty's Legation of their desire to import
these arms and asked for facilities through India
(N905/299/97). The Government of India have said
that facilities will he given (N105G/299/97) and I
think that we should give consent without delay. The
present moment, when we know that King Nadir Shah is
in peculiar difficulties, is one when we should make
as little trouble as possible about formalities.
It is true that the Afghan Government spoke of
9,000 rifles and 9,000,000 rounds S.A.A. captain
Hall told me some days ago the transaction had been
reduced by 1,000 rifles, though he did not know why.
VJhatever the reason, and it may be connected with
prices, the greater number may be held to include the
less.
It is worth noting that however much the. price
paid to the Office General de 1’Air by the Afghan
Government may have charged, the price ..c-.id a
ceived. by Messrs. Flemings has not done so to any
large extent. 8,000 bears the same relation more or
less to 50,000 that £42,000 does u o
Q. Copy to 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. with minutes, draft
reply and draft telegram.
(Signed) L* Baggalay.
23/2/31.
i. agree, L. Collier.
February 23rd.
(Initialled.)
23/2.

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Content

The volume contains correspondence regarding the purchase by the Afghan Government of arms, ammunition and explosives from a number of sources, including the War Office and British and French firms.

It includes communications between British officials (HM Minister in Kabul and the Foreign Office) and the Afghan Foreign Ministry and Afghan legations to Paris and London, regarding: requests to purchase and transport materials; negotiations over customs dues and transport costs; requests for the recommendation of arms firms; and the quality of materials supplied by private companies.

Folios 552-567 consist of a memo titled 'Applications for the Export of Arms and Munitions to Afghanistan', providing details of the procedures to be followed, and a copy of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty (1921).

The file also contains correspondence between British and Indian officials (the War Office, the Board of Trade, 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, the Government of India Political Department, the Collector of Customs at Karachi) and a number of British firms, regarding: informal requests for permission to sell or transport munitions to the Afghan Government; applications for export licences; concerns over the quality and source of munitions; and details of alleged attempts by a German firm to supply arms, in possible violation of Article 170 of the Treaty of Versailles. The firms include: Messrs A Fleming; Gray, Dawes & Company; Mackinnon Mackenzie & Company; Imperial Chemical Industries Limited; and Machine Tools (India) Limited. The correspondence also includes information on the involvement of the French firm L'Office Générale de l'Air, and its dealings with Messrs A Fleming.

The volume includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. This is placed at the end of the correspondence (folios 4-5).

Extent and format
1 volume (568 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 570; 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 7/4 'Afghanistan: purchase of arms from Great Britain' [‎419r] (842/1146), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2173, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100056050959.0x00002b> [accessed 13 May 2024]

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