![Coll 7/23 'Afghanistan: sale of 5000 rifles with 3 million rounds of ammunition to the Afghan Government by the Government of India, 1935' [‎62v] (124/681)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x0002da/IOR_L_PS_12_2191_00127.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Coll 7/23 'Afghanistan: sale of 5000 rifles with 3 million rounds of ammunition to the Afghan Government by the Government of India, 1935' [‎62v] (124/681)")
Coll 7/23 'Afghanistan: sale of 5000 rifles with 3 million rounds of ammunition to the Afghan Government by the Government of India, 1935' [62v] (124/681)
The record is made up of 1 file (338 folios). It was created in 23 Apr 1934-13 Jul 1938. 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
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
(Enclosure I to Kabul despatch No. 118, dated 22nd October, 1935.)
Copy of a letter from His Majesty’s Minister, Kabul, to the Afghan
Foreign Minister, No. 824, dated 6th August, 1935.
With reference to the oral discussions which have taken place between
His Highness/ the Prime Minister, Your Excellency and myself on the
subject of the supply of munitions to the Afghan Government, I have the
honour to inform you, under instructions from His Majesty’s Principal
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs acting in conjunction with the Gov
ernment of India, that His Majesty’s Government have agreed to the pro
posals made by Your Excellency’s Government in regard to the supply of
5,000 rifles and 3,000,000 rounds of ammunition.
2. The arrangements proposed were as follows :—
5,000 (five thousand) rifles complete with bayonets, oil bottles, and
pull throughs and 3,000,000 (three million) rounds of small
arms ammunition will be 1 delivered to the representatives of
the Afghan Government at Landi Kotal on August 1st 1935.
The cost of this consignment is Rs. 8,03,000 (Indian) and this
sum will be credited by the Afghan Government to the account
of the Government of India with the Peshawar branch of the
Imperial Bank of India in six equal instalments as follows :—
1st instalment on or before February 1st, 1936
2nd instalment on or before February 1st, 1937
3rd instalment on or before February 1st, 1938
4th instalment; on or before February 1st, 1939 -
5th instalment on or before February 1st, 1940
6th instalment on or before February 1st, 1941
Rs. a. P.
1,33,833 5 4
1,33,833 5 4
1,33,833 5 4
1,33,833 5 4
1,33,833 5 4
1,33,833 5 4
Total • 8,03,00^ 0 0 0 ^
No interest will be charged on the above instalments.
3. I have the honour to request that Your Excellency will be good
enough to inform me whether the Government of Afghanistan confirms the
above proposals.
(Enclosure II to Kabul despatch No. 118, dated 22nd October, 1935.)
Translation of a letter from the Afghan Foreign Minister, to His
Majesty’s Minister, Kabul, No. 1906, dated the 14th August, 1935.
I am writing in reply to Your Excellency’s letter, No. 824, dated the
6th August, 1935, and have the honour to state that the Government of His
Imperial Majesty Muhammad Zahir Shah, King of Afghanistan, have
received and accept at a cost of
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
Indian eight
lacs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
and three thousand
the 5,000 rifles complete with bayonets, oil bottles, pull throughs and thirty
lacs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of cartridges delivered by Your Excellency’s Government to my Govern
ment, and agree to pay this sum of money in six annual instalments as
stated in your letter No. 824, dated the 6th August. In accordance with
your letter referred to above the first instalment having commenced before
the 1st February, 1936, the sixth and last will terminate before the 1st
February, 1941. Each of the six yearly instalments will amount to
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
Indian one
lac
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
thirty-three thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, annas
five and pies four.
My Government recognise that your Government are charging no inte
rest on this sum of
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
Indian eight
lacs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
and three thousand, being the
cost of 5,000 rifles complete with bayonets, oil bottles, pull throughs and
thirty
lacs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of cartridges, and on that account I am to convey my Govern
ment’s thanks. I wish also officially to record and to express to Your Excel
lency my sincere thanks as well as the thanks of my Government for this
friendly" consideration shown bv the British Government. I trust you will
convev these expressions of gratitude to your Government and I am certain
that the friendly relations existing between the two Governments will be
strengthened and increased day by day.
GTPD-2o3(S) F&PD—S 2-7-11-3&-30.
About this item
- Content
The file contains correspondence and minutes regarding requests by the Afghan Government for arms, ammunition and aircraft to be supplied by either the British or Indian Governments. The material predominantly consists of telegrams sent to 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. by HM Minister at Kabul (William Kerr Fraser-Tytler), and the Government of India Foreign and Political Department, regarding the following:
- an initial request from the Afghan Government to be supplied with arms and ammunition, with the aim of strengthening the Afghan army, and thereby convincing the frontier tribes to disarm;
- requests for British and Indian assistance in defending the northern road from a possible Russian advance against Afghanistan;
- Afghan concerns over the loss of arms, particularly .303 calibre rifles, to tribes in the southern and eastern regions, and their enquiries into the possibility of purchasing a different calibre of rifle and ammunition;
- Afghan policy towards the Soviet Union;
- Afghan policy towards Britain and the Government of India;
- the policies of Britain and India towards Afghanistan, and the need to ensure an independent and stable Afghanistan for the security of India.
The file also includes correspondence between HM Minister Kabul, the Government of India Foreign and Political Department, 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 and the War Office, regarding: the quantities and calibres of arms and ammunition to be supplied; the division of costs and liability between the Governments of Britain and India; and payment options for the Afghan Government.
The correspondence ends following the delivery of 5,000 rifles and three million rounds of ammunition, in time for the start of the Jashan festival. At this point the Afghan Government were negotiating for a further supply of 10,000 rifles and ammunition; this request is documented in the file IOR/L/PS/12/2203.
The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the end of the correspondence (folio 1).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (338 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in rough chronological order from the rear to the front of the file
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 339; 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 View the complete information for this record
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Coll 7/23 'Afghanistan: sale of 5000 rifles with 3 million rounds of ammunition to the Afghan Government by the Government of India, 1935' [62v] (124/681), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2191, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100057535581.0x00007f> [accessed 23 April 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2191
- Title
- Coll 7/23 'Afghanistan: sale of 5000 rifles with 3 million rounds of ammunition to the Afghan Government by the Government of India, 1935'
- Pages
- 37r:45v, 62v
- Author
- Afghan, Minister for Foreign Affairs xx Afghan Foreign Minister
- Usage terms
- The copyright status is unknown. Please contact copyright@bl.uk with any information you have regarding this item.