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File 1355/1917 Pt 6 'Arms Traffic Convention: revised convention, 1925' [558r] (1122/1226)
The record is made up of 1 volume (609 folios). It was created in 19 Feb 1925-29 Apr 1926. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
as implements of war, which is clearly not the case. It would, therefore, be necessary
to differentiate between military and civil aircraft, but it has been found impossible
to arrive at any satisfactory definition.
Even if some definition of military aircraft were possible, recent experience
in China has shown that an embargo upon the supply of such aircraft is easily
nullified by the purchase of aircraft nominally civil in function, but, in fact,
f intended and easily adaptable to warlike purposes in areas where regular military
air forces are non-existent.
It is unnecessary for the purposes of this note to enter in detail upon the
technical difficulties attaching to such discrimination, beyond pointing out that,
during the last four years, the definition of military aircraft imposed upon the
ex-enemy countries has been a subject of constant controversy, both with those
countries and between the Allies themselves. Should a similar definition be
introduced into this convention it would undoubtedly be necessary to have some such
organisation as a tribunal to give decisions as to its interpretation in many
individual cases.
Any attempt, therefore, to include aircraft in Chapter I should be firmly
resisted for the above-mentioned reasons.
Annex (D).
The “ Special Zones ” and the Question of the Inclusion or Exclusion of Persia.
Experience has shown that Persian territory is a useful channel for the infiltra
tion of weapons into tribal country on the north-east frontier of India, where the
increased possession of alms of precision by the tribesmen adds considerably to the
difficulties continually facing the Government of India on that frontier.
The Government of India would like to see this channel of traffic dried up, (a) by
cutting off the How of arms at the source, i.e., the exporter's end, (b) by blocking the
channel itself.
In theory, (a) could be best achieved, so far as it is possible at all, and (b) would
also be achieved, in some degree, if Persia were included in the special zone.
But though the supply of weapons from the south* to private persons in Persia
(and through them to the insatiable market on the
north-west frontier
Region of British India bordering Afghanistan.
) would be
checked at the source if Persia were in the special zone, it is quite certain that, with
Russia not a party to the convention, there will be a considerable infiltration from
the north. It becomes desirable, therefore, to concentrate on object (b), the blocking
of the channel inside Persian territory, which can only be achieved by the action of
the Persian Government itself But the Persian Government is not likely to bestir
itself in the desired direction, if it feels that an endeavour is being made to force it
to do so, against its will, by the compulsory provisions of those articles of the
convention to which it objects.
The Persian delegate has strongly objected to the stigma which is considered to
attach to inclusion in the special zone; and it is thought that Persia might the more
willingly undertake to put into force restrictive measures inside her territory, such
as we desire (generally similar in effect to those laid down in the chapter in the
convention on supervision on land), if she were assured of British support for her
demand for exclusion from the special zone. His Majesty’s Minister in Tehran
has, therefore, been instructed to offer the Persian Government British support for
this demand, if it will undertake actively to prevent the importation into Persia of
arms and ammunition (except, of course, on Government account), which is, in
fact, forbidden by Persia's own law of 1900; and will, in furtherance of these
active steps, specify a limited number of ports (on the northern frontier no less than
on the maritime frontier in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
), through which alone arms, &c., may
legitimately be imported.
But obviously, no bargain of this nature is possible unless Persia understands
that there still is a possibility that she may be included in the special zone to be
specified in article 9t of the draft convention; and India, therefore, does not wish
her to be definitely excluded in anticipation of the Geneva Conference.
* Apart from smuggling by natives that still goes on in much lessened volume,
f Or 8 if the suggested amendments go through.
About this item
- Content
The papers in this volume relate to the revised international Arms Traffic Convention (1925).
The papers include: The right to supply munitions to the governments of Afghanistan, Nepal and Tibet should they fall within the ‘prohibited zone’, 11 December 1924; the preference for including all countries bordering India (except Siam) in the prohibited zone should Russia decide to adopt the Convention, and potential British support for Persia’s claim to exclusion from the zone should Russia decide to reject the Convention, 3 February 1925; the exclusion of Persia and Afghanistan from the prohibited zone, and possible arrangement of imports through Bushire [Bushehr], Mohammerah [Khorramshahr] and Karachi, 18 February-12 March 1925; the proposed abandonment of the term ‘prohibited’ areas to induce Turkey and Persia to join the Convention, and empowerment of the governments of the countries bordering India, 24 March 1925; the readiness of HMG Her or His Majesty’s Government in London. to support Persia’s request for exclusion from the prohibited zone in order to ensure the strict regulation of the private arms trade from Russia to India via Persia, 5-11 April 1925; the Government of India’s objections to Article 25 of the Convention, 11-30 April 1925; the Conference on Supervision of the International Trade in Arms and Ammunition, Geneva, 6 May-17 June 1925; the report on the proceedings of the Inter-Departmental Committee assembled to consider the draft Convention for Control of the Trade in Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War produced by the Temporary Mixed Commission of the League of Nations, with annexes including drafts of the Convention by the Temporary Mixed Commission and the Inter-Departmental Committee, and a minute by the Secretary of State on the Arms Traffic Conference, 23-28 April 1925; the protocol on the use of asphyxiating, poisonous and other gases in times of war, 20 May-14 June 1925; the list of countries designated as ‘special zones’ in the Arms Traffic Convention, 25-27 May 1925; the proposal of the Persian delegate Mīrzā A title of honour originally applied to princes, later to military leaders, and later still to secretaries, chieftains, and other ‘gentlemen’. Reżā Khan Arfaʿ al-Dawla, 29 May-6 June 1925; the nomination of a Jurist Committee by the Bureau for the purpose of determining the status of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in international law as the best means of dealing with the Persian delegation, 4-11 June 1925; the Persian amendment to the second paragraph of Article 15 of the Convention, 8-9 June 1925; the protest of the High Commissioner for Iraq at the inclusion of the country in a special zone, 8-25 June 1925; the vote on the inclusion of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Gulf of Oman as special zones, 11-15 June 1925; the declaration on the manufacture of arms, ammunition and implements of war, 8 June 1925; the general report on the League of Nations’ Conference for the Supervision of the International Trade in Arms and Ammunition and in Implements of War, including the texts of the Convention, Statement regarding the Territory of Ifni, Protocol on Chemical and Bacteriological Warfare, Protocol of Signature, and the Final Act, dated at Geneva, 14 June 1925 (texts in French and English); the statement of Sir Percy Cox on the Persian arguments concerning maritime zones, and the response of the Persian delegate General Habibullah Khan [Ḥabib Allāh Khan Shāybanī], 15 June 1925-28 January 1926; the inspection of ships at Indian ports and interception of arms bound for China, 22 October 1925-29 April 1926.
The volume also includes a decree by the Shah of Persia, Muẓaffar al-Dīn Shāh Qājār against arms trafficking, signed on his behalf by the Ṣadr-i Aʿẓam, Mīrzā A title of honour originally applied to princes, later to military leaders, and later still to secretaries, chieftains, and other ‘gentlemen’. ʻAlī Aṣghar Khān Amīn al-Sulṭān, dated 1 January 1900 (in French).
The correspondence in this volume is primarily between the Viceroy, Foreign and Political Department; Secretary of State for India; Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Under-Secretary of State, 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. ; the Admiralty; Richard William Alan Onslow, 5th Earl of Onslow; HM Consul Geneva; War Office; Foreign Office; 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. ; Colonial Office; Sir Percy Zachariah Cox; Sir Frederic Arthur Hirtzel; Secretary of State for the Colonies.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (609 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 1355 (Peace Settlement: The Arms Traffic Convention 1919) consists of four volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/672-675. The volumes are divided into 6 parts; with part 1 comprising one volume, parts 2, 4 and 5 comprising the second volume, part 3 comprising the third volume, and part 6 comprising the fourth volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 610; 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. The file has one foliation anomaly, f 242a.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/675
- Title
- File 1355/1917 Pt 6 'Arms Traffic Convention: revised convention, 1925'
- Pages
- 548r:559r
- Author
- League of Nations
- Copyright
- ©United Nations Archives at Geneva
- Usage terms
- Creative Commons Non-Commercial Licence