"الاتجار بالأسلحة في مسقط. ١٩٠٨-١٩٠٩." [و‎‎٦] (١٢٨/١٦)

* at fnrtt of next DEC’e.
I• It is not necessary to rewrite the political aspects, and the past history
of the Arms Trade in the Persian Gulf. This has been fully and completely
discussed by Mr. Lorimer in his memorandum on “ The Arms and Ammunition
Traffic in the Gulfs of Persia and Oman The various Appendices herein,
however, deal with the history of the trade in detail during the past three years.
2. The trade during the last few years has increased enormously, having
nearly quadrupled itself. The Consular Trade Report for Masqat for 1905-06
gives the total value of the arms trade as Rs. 1,074,380 and, that of 1907-08 as
Rs. 4,185,390 {vide Appendix IV).
3. The fact is also apparent that the coming of the Hamburg American
steamers to the Gulf has given an immense impetus to this trade on the Conti
nent, and that a large proportion of the trade is falling into the hands of
non-English manufacturers. (For details vide Appendix V.)
4. During the last two years attempts have been made to stop the import of
arms into Persia, but with comparatively small results. A couple of dhows were
captured by the Navy, and one or two small shiploads thrown overboard by
dhows when chased in 1908, but in March 1909 two dhows with 1,550 rifles and
170,000 rounds on board were seized on the high seas. What little success there
has been is due to the efforts of Mr. New of the Indo-European Telegraph
Department, who has instituted a system of guards along the Makran coast to
watch the gun-runners. A short resume of the scheme will be found in
Appendix I.
5. The Persians were also induced to make an attempt to stop the caravans
between the coast and the Afghan Border, but the results effected were nil. A
history of the action taken will be found in Appendix III. Appendix II contains
all particulars available regarding the caravans, and the routes followed by them.
6. The double company at Robat was in 1908 increased by 500 men whilst
the caravans were on the move, and the Jashk detachment was reinforced by 200
men owing to rumours that the gun-runners intended to avenge themselves on
the posts for injuries and losses sustained at the hands of the Navy during that
year, and at the hands of the Robat detachment during the previous one The
garrisons at Robat and Jashk remained at 200 and 100 men respectively during
the 1908-09 season.
7. To sum up ; the traffic has increased to an enormous extent during the past
three years, and all steps taken materially to interfere with it have proved ineffec
tual. The Navy appear to admit that they are practically powerless to accomplish
much with the means at their disposal, the Persians have proved that they are
helpless, the detachment at Robat has shown that it can do nothing to interfere
with the progress of the caravans, whilst the proceedings at the Brussels Arms
Conference have not as yet afforded any hope of a satisfactory settlement.
8. From the accompanying appendices the following figures have been
arrived at.
1906.
—
Rifles.
Percentage
(of imports).
Ammunition.
Percentage.
tTotal imports into Masqat
...
40 000
...
9 , 30->,000
...
•Exported to Makran coast
...
...
3.175
8
Nil
...
Exported to other places
...
...
14,700
37
3 , 210,000
35
Unaccounted for ...
• •1
...
22,125
55
6 , 090,000
65