'Selection from Correspondence Relative to the Traffic in Arms in the Persian Gulf, 1897-98. Part II' [47v] (40/52)
The record is made up of 1 file (26 folios). It was created in 26 Oct 1898. 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.
Other statements have been received and have appeared in the press to the
effect that the recent enforcement of its orders by the Persian Government
has entailed serious loss to the Birmingham trade. But the information
before his Bordship does not bear out this view, and tends to show that the
hulk of arms and ammunition illicitly imported into Persia was made abroad
and not in Birmingham, although the barrels made abroad and fitted abroad
have been tested in Birmingham. Lord Salisbury was therefore anxious to
obtain more precise information as to the actual shipments of the arms made
by you, and the extent of loss caused to British workmen and to your firm
by the suspension of the shipments. You were consequently asked to supply
particulars as to the total quantity of guns shipped by you in the past year.
To this you reply that you have shipped none to Persia during that period.
There is, therefore, no evidence of previous trade on your part before the
Secretary of State for Poreign Affairs on which he could found any
representations on your behalf to the Persian Government.
Butfitis open to any agent or correspondent of your firm in Persia to apply,
through Her Majesty’s Legation at Tehran, for a special permit for the entry
of sporting guns, provided it can be shown that the destination of the guns
precludes the risk of their being put to improper use.
I am, &c.,
W. G. Bonehill, Esq. (Sd.)
No. 25.
Enclosure in Eoreign Office Letter of 30th July 1898.
From Sir M. Durand to Foreign Office.
Political (Telegraphic.) No. 86. Your Lordship’s telegram No. 51. Arms
No. 2152/98. and ammunition seized at Bushire are being sent here, and are
beginning to arrive. No appeal has been made to me by merchants, but
I find that representations were made in December and January by
Messrs. Dixon, Fracis Times, and Livingstone Muir to Resident at Bushire
who referred to Legation. It was not urged that prohibition was unknown
to shippers or consignees, but merchants argue that prohibition was
nominal, and that arms were imported [openly] with permission of Persian
authorities and consent of Resident. I cannot find that any answer was
sent to Messrs. Dixon or Fracis Times, but answer in case of Livingstone
Muir was, that, though not rigidly enforced, prohibition had never been
withdrawn, and that recent seizures had been made with approval of Her
Majesty’s Government.
There is no doubt that illicit traffic was carried on with connivance of
Persian local authorities, but it might not be easy to prove connivance of
Persian Government.
Since my return Belgian Minister consulted me regarding possibility of
release of some Belgian arms belonging to Fracis Times on the ground that
they were sporting weapons. I answered that almost all could be used as
military weapons, that prohibition applied even to sporting weapons, and
that I feared Her Majesty’s Government would be unable to help Times, but
that this was my private opinion only.
Resident has not yet answered your
* H.C., 2124/98. Lordship’s telegram, No. 49* of
20th June {sic, ? July).
No. 26.
Enclosure in Foreign Office Letter of 30th July 1898.
The Law Officers of the Grown to the Marquess of Salisbury.
Royal Courts of Justice,
Political My Lords, 19th July 1898.
No. 2186/98. We were honoured with your Lordship’s commands, signified in
Sir Thomas Sanderson’s letter of the 13th instant, in relation to the recent
seizure of arms at Bushire ex the steamship “ Beluchistan.”
About this item
- Content
This file contains a selection of correspondence and enclosures compiled by the 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. Political and Secret Department relating to arms traffic in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. from 1897-98.
Correspondents include: 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. and Consul at Maskat [Muscat], 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. , the Foreign Office, the Viceroy of India, the Board of Customs, the Consul-General for Fars, the Chargé d'Affaires in Tehran, the 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 Government of India, the Secretary of State for India, and various British merchant companies.
The following topics are discussed:
- the seizure of arms on board SS Baluchistan ;
- an assessment of the current situation regarding arms traffic and steps recently taken for its suppression;
- British and Persian firms engaged in the arms trade;
- the confiscation of arms at Bushire;
- Persian prohibition, and British interests in coming to agreement with the Persian Government and assisting in enforcing Persian regulations;
- methods of trade;
- policy for the future;
- the registration of arms and ammunition;
- the case of Fracis Times & Co. v. The Sea Insurance Company (Limited)
It contains three letters in French.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (26 folios)
- Arrangement
This file consists of a single document with re-printed correspondence arranged chronologically.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 28, and terminates at f 53, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, 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.
Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/C87/2
- Title
- 'Selection from Correspondence Relative to the Traffic in Arms in the Persian Gulf, 1897-98. Part II'
- Pages
- 28r:31v, 32v:35v, 36v:37r, 38v, 40r, 41r:42v, 44r:44v, 46r:46v, 47v:51v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence