"ملاحظات وزارة الخارجية. تجارة الأسلحة في الخليج الفارسي." [ظ‎‎٥] (٢٢/١٠)

s
We agree that for the present we should confine ourselves to naval activity adopting the
proposals of the Admiral [vide paragraph 9 of Mr. Reynolds* note) with one important modi
fication, viz., that the blockade should be maintained for a full year. Arms are now sent over
weekly and stored on the Mekran coast until the Afghan caravans come down.
We also advise that an officer of the Intelligence Branch be attached to the detachment at
Jask with a view to organise a regular system of intelligence ; and that Mr. Gregson of the
North-West Frontier Police be put on special duty to work between the frontier and Karachi.
He has special knowledge. He, of course, would be in close communication with the
officer at Jask. Much can be done to make the trade more difficult and dangerous. Many of
the men who own the caravans are financed by the bankers of Dera Ismail Khan district
and come down through that place to Karachi.
There is reason to hope that the gun-running business will languish if an effective
blockade is kept up for a year. The business is sensitive and it is run with borrowed money.
For this reason the more and the sooner we advertise that we are going to have a naval
blockade the better.
It can be considered later, in communication with the Minister at Tehran, whether a
garrison should be placed again at Robat, and, if so, in what strength. Perhaps it will be
sufficient to withdraw the telegraph officer from Dehaneh.
The case may go, in the first instance, to the Army Department. The Foreign Depart
ment and our two greatest frontier experts consider the position to be so grave, and to be full
of so much danger in the future, that any expenditure incurred now to prevent the situation
developing further will be in the nature of insurance against larger expenditure. We thinfc
that there is still time to take effectual preventive action. Had we been able to come to terms
with France such action could have been taken at a smaller cost. We waited in this hope.
Action should no longer be delayed. It would seem desirable to address the Secretary of
State by telegram.
S. H. Butler, —5-7-09.
Army Department (Confidential).
Memorandum showing the papers forwarded to the India Office with the Foreign
Secretary^ letter No. 28 M., dated the 8th July 1909.
The Chief of Staff’s Division may see with reference to General Mullaly’s note, dated
the 4th June 1909, in Marine Department B, July 19U9, Nos. 1263-1264.
S. C. B.,—8-7-09.
Secretary has seen.
E. W. S. K. Maconchy,—8-7-09.
Chief of the Staff's Division.