'File 13/3 Arms Traffic' [‎276r] (551/608)

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4 . I shall likewise, on receipt of full particulars, report further on Shaikh
Sugar’s conduct in failing to take action when appealed to, and make such
suggestions as seem called for. Meanwhile, he has so far co-operated, after the
event, as to receive the three prisoners into custody and, later, to hand them
over at my instance to H. M. S. “ Pelorus”,
The Agent’s letter, in referring to Shaikh Sagar, merely states that he
refused altogether to give assistance, hut there are local conditions which would
affect the Shaikh’s attitude which, though not mentioned by Khan Bahadur
Abdul Latif, cannot be altogether ignored in forming an estimate of the Shaikh’s
conduct.
These Chiefs have no standing force and have to rely for the safety of their
towns against Bedouin depredations mainly upon the maintenance of friendly
pacts and relations with the Bedouin of the hinterland. The tribe wdiom
Shargah has to reckon with is the Beni kitab [vide Gazetteer); so that if, as in
this case, the tribe were, or were about to be, connected with the caravan, the
seizure of it by Shaikh Sagar would be liable to bring him and Ins town into
feud with them. It will be seen, therefore, that in affording or refusing active
co-operation the Shaikh had to look further ahead than the mere seizure of these
particular arms, lie could also no doubt have had at the back of his mind the
case of the seizure of arms by the Shaikh of Debai last year and its untoward
sequel. But although refusing to participate himself for some such consideration
as the above, Shaikh Sagar would have no objection to our Agent doing what
he could and would hesitate the less to co-operate when he saw that there was
no longer any question of his being embroiled with the Beni kitab. But while
giving this explanation of local conditions, I am not of the opinion that the
Shaikh’s conduct in this case can be overlooked, and shall, as above stated,
make suggestions later.
5 . Meanwhile, the present incident seems to afford another cogent ground
for stronger British representation on that coast. A British officer with a few
camel sowars at his back would, I believe, be able to do a great deal towards-
keeping the hinterland free from the attentions of the arms-smuggliog
fraternity.
6. One of the inhabitants of Katar quoted as being interested in these
arms,—Bin Mana’a,—is no doubt a member of the locally well known
“Bin Mana’a” or “A 1 Mana’a” family of Doha, related, I believe, by marriage
to the Bin Thani Shaikhs. It was a member of this family, probably the same
Vide Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. telepram No. 370 , dated the 24th OHC, who WaS hit by tile SeizUT© of the
Airil 1911, and connected correspondence. dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. “ Fath-al-Khair ” in April 1911 .
7 . I am suggesting by telegraph that the three Arab prisoners, residents
of Doha, now in custody on His Majesty’s ship “ Pelorus ”, should be given a
term of imprisonment at Karachi as a deterent to others. There seems no
practical or political objection to the course,
8. I should mention in conclusion that the Sultan, worked upon no doubt
by Saiyid Yusuf Zawavi, thought it necessary to ask the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. to
make a pro forma appeal or remonstrance to me on his behalf regarding this
seizure and the arrest of the Katar men, but His Highness received with a
smile the reply that it could not be entertained and that I was surprised at his
having made it.
I am sending a copy of this letter, with enclosures, to His Excellency the
Naval Commander-in-Chief and the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Maskat.
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Translation of a letter from the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent, Shargah, to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , No. 394, dated the 1st September 1912.
Since I received your letters, Nos. 138 , 155 and 156 , dated the 24 th July,
15 th August aud 17 th August, respectively, I have used the utmost endeavours
to draw the attention of the Shaikhs to the necessity of taking precautions,
with a view to stopping the arms traffic and the importation or exportation
of arms in or out of their territories. Recognising that the assurances of the
Shaikhs in regard to this problem were insincere and that they had no active