'Muscat: 1908-1928' [‎41r] (3/18)

8. The result was to make Muscat the recognised centre of the trade in
arms for the whole Middle East. At the beginning of the period now in
question, the main channel of distribution was from Muscat across the Gulf
to the coast of Persian Makran, whence arms were taken up country by
caravans, ultimately reaching the tribesmen of Afghanistan and the North-
West Frontier of India. From 1910-11, the stringency of the prohibitive
measures imposed by His Majesty’s Government led to the adoption, in
preference, of smuggling to El Katr. on the Arabian coast, then still under
Turkish control, and thence across the Gulf to the Persian coast of Laristan.
9. The constant flow of modern arms of precision from Muscat to the
North-West Frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. of India created a very serious situation for the
Government of India and His Majesty’s Government. The situation was
one which could be dealt with adequately only by the suppression of the
free trade in arms at Muscat. The fact that the Sultan had commercial
treaties not only with His Majesty’s Government, but with the United States
of America and France, which expressly provided for the unrestricted
import and export of all kinds of merchandise (with certain specified
exceptions) ; that he had further a commercial declaration which provided
for reciprocal most-favoured-nation treatment between Muscat and Holland ;
that a large part of the trade in arms was in the hands of certain French
firms with considerable political influence in the Chamber ; and that the
French Government, unlike the Governments of the United States of
America and Holland, was not prepared to sacrifice its treaty rights provided
other Treaty .Powers did the same, made it extremely difficult to take
effective steps to this end.
10. The efforts made by His Majesty's Government to provide a quid
pro quo acceptable to the French Government having failed, steps vvere
taken, in the light of a reiteration at the Brussels Arms Conference of
190S-9 of the refusal of France to modify her attitude, to suppress the traffic
so far as was practicable without the violation of existing treaty rights.
Towards the end of 1909 a naval blockade was instituted, which was still in
being on the outbreak of the War in 1914, but which, though it met with very
considerable success, proved extremely costly. Between 1910 and 191^
further lengthy negotiations took place in consequence with the French
Government and with the Sultan. The Sultan, who saw' in the suppression
of the traffic not merely a possible occasion of immediate compensation from
His Majesty’s Government, but the closing of the most convenient source from
which the rebellious tribes in the interior of Oman could arm themselves
against him, was generally amenable, though in 1911-12 his financial
difficulties, which delivered him into the hands of the arms dealers,* led him
for a time to change from an attitude of neutrality towards the trade, to active,
if surreptitious, participation in it. The French Government, however,
remained unyielding, and in view of the complete failure of the negotiations
with them, it was decided to disregard France, and to endeavour to concert
with the Sultan of Muscat some local arrangements for a satisfactory control
of the trade.!
11. It is unnecessary to recapitulate the various incidents which took
place in connection with the suppression of the traffic between 1910 and
1912, or to enter into details of the discussions which took place during
that period with the Sultan and with France. Suffice it to say that, after
lengthy negotiation, an arrangement was finally reached with His Highness
in May 1912. Under this the Sultan agreed to establish at Muscat a bonded
warehouse under sufficient control, in which all arms and ammunition would
be deposited on importation, the warehouse to be in charge of a trustworthy
person from among bis subjects. All issues from the warehouse would be
regulated by special licences prepared by the Superintendent and counter
signed by the Sultan personally, and such licences would be issued ouly
to individual purchasers or their authorised agents subject to satisfactory
proof that the issue involved was “ free from justifiable objection.” Licences
would not be issuable to traders.
12. The terms on which the Sultan agreed to this settlement were as
follows. He was to receive as compensation an immediate lump sum
I.O. Memo. B. 175,
182, 196.
* Cj>. tel. from
Viceroy to S. of S.
for I., Jan. 14 1911,
P. 171, P. 200.
t I.O. to F.O ,
July 19 1911.