Coll 34/7 'Slavery: Slave Traffic and Gun-running: Right of search by H. M. ships in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf' [‎267r] (533/576)

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As regards other parts of Turkey in Asia, other parts of the Arabian peninsula,
Transcaucasia and Persia, it is assumed that any action that may be called for on the
part of His Majesty’s Government will be undertaken by the Foreign Office.
As regards the question raised in para. 8 of your letter to the Treasury of the
1st December, of supplementary action in India in regard to Chapter IV. of the
Convention, relating to maritime supervision, it appears to Mr. Montagu that this may
most conveniently be considered at a later stage, when a draft of the Bill proposed to
be submitted to Parliament is available.
Copies of this letter and enclosures are being sent to the Foreign Office, Colonial
Office and Treasury.
I am, &c.,
The Secretary, Admiralty. J. E. Siiuckburch.
ENCLOSURE No. 4 :—Foreign Office 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. .
No. A. 8012/7143/60. Foreign Office,
Sir, 15th December 1920.
With reference to the Foreign Office letter No. 7143/7143/60 of 21st October,
I am directed by Earl Curzon of Kedleston to transmit to you herewith copy of
correspondence with the Air Ministry, regarding a proposal made by the latter, that
the French, Italian, Belgian, and Japanese Governments should be urged to agree to
prohibit the export of small arms, ammunition, bombs, &c., to the prohibited zones
specified in Article 6 of the Arms Traffic Convention.
2. The views of this I department on this proposal are set forth in the enclosed
copy of a letter to the Air Ministry, but his Lordship would be glad to receive any
observations which your Department may desire to offer.
3. A letter in similar terms is being addressed to the Board of Trade, War Office,
Admiralty, Ministry of Munitions, and Colonial Office.
I am, &c.,
The Under Secretary of State H. J. Seymour.
for India.
Annex 1 :—Air Ministry to Foreign Office.
No. A. 8612/7143/60 Air Ministry,
Sir, 8th December 1920.
In reply to your letter of the 21st October last, number as above, relative to the
Arms Traffic Convention, I am commanded by the Air Council to acquaint you, for
the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that they concur in the
proposal that the Italian Ambassador should be informed that in the opinion of His
Majesty’s Government it would serve no useful purpose to ratify the Convention
unless the other signatory Powers, including the United States, are also in a position
to do so. At the same time I am to observe that in the opinion of the Council, it
would be greatly to the advantage of British interests if Italy, France, Belgium and
Japan could be induced to agree not to export small arms, ammunition, bombs, &c., to
the areas specified in Article 6 of the Convention.
I am, &c.,
The Under Secretary of State, C. II. Brigstocke.
Foreign Office.
Annex 2 :—Foreign Office to Air Ministry.
Foreign Office,
Sir, 15th December 1920.
With reference to your letter No. A. 9012/S. 4 of the 8th instant, I am directed
bv Earl Curzon of Kedleston to state that his Lordship notes that the Air Council
concur in the terms of the reply which it is proposed to return to the Italian
Ambassador relative to the ratification of the Conventions respecting the African
Liquor Traffic, the revision of the Berlin and Brussels Acts and the Arms Traffic.
2. With regard to the suggestion of the Air Council that it might be advan
tageous if Italy, France, Belgium and Japan could be induced to agree not to export
small arms, ammunition, bombs, &c., to the prohibited zones specified in Article 6 of
the Arms Traffic Convention, Lord Curzon doubts whether such a course of action is
really practicable, though he agrees that, if it were, the results might be beneficial to
British interests.
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