"الملف ٣/١٣ الاتجار بالأسلحة" [و‎‎١‎٩‎١] (٦٠٨/٣٨١)

45
-No. 5, dated Bushire, the 1 st (received 10th) January 1811 (Confidential).
( From— •Captain R. L. Birdwood, First Assistant to the Resident in the Persian
Gulf (in the absence of the Resident),
Tfo—-The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
With reference to correspondence ending with this office letterf No. 1670 ,
dated 22nd June 1910, I have the
senai No. 106 . r n rt v. honour to forward herewith, for the in-
No c.—?8, dated t.heoih December i9io. formation of the Government of India,
^ a copy of the marginally noted letter
which has been received from the Political Agent, Kuwait, regarding certain
French-owned arms and ammunition confiscated by Shaikh Mubarak.
2. The Resident, who is away from headquarters will communicate his
views on the subject to Government on his return.
No. C.—73, dated Kuwait, the 20 th December 1910 (Confidential).
From— Captain W. H. I. Shakkspear, Political Agent, Koweit,
To—The Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire.
I have the honour to invite a reference to the correspondence ending with
. _ , q -1 xt mV letter^ No. C.—37, dated the 18th
t Enclo., Serial No. IC6, Part V. T * m X f lx • i xi
June 1910, regarding the seizure by the
Shaikh of Kuwait of the arms and ammunition landed in April last from the
French dhow “ Fateh-al-Khair”.
2. During a conversation a few days ago the Shaikh enquired whether he
might now issue the arms to his own followers, as they had been under guard
for eight months and there had been no further proceedings in regard to them.
I replied that I would be glad if he would await the receipt of a reply to a
reference which I would make to you on the subject by this mail.
3. Under the terms of his Notification of May 1900 the Shaikh is entitled
to the proceeds of all such confiscations, and though he made difficulties at the
time, the confiscation was actually carried out legally under that proclamation.
The owner of the arms, Goguyer et Cie, after an attempt to recover his loss has
apparently abandoned the arms and the French Government have not, so far as
I am aware, made any representations in the matter. There would seem,
therefore, to be no objection in permitting the Shaikh to make use of the
consignment.
4. Though the Shaikh has lately imported a large number of arms for his
followers and fighting men, and should therefore not be in need of the confis
cated weapons, 1 believe the real reason of his present request is that the con
fiscated consignment consisting of inferior and cheap weapons he would prefer
to distribute them before making inroads on the new stock of more valuable
and costly arms lately received.
5. If there is no other objection to the Shaikh’s distributing these arms, I
would solicit the favour of an early reply authorising me to intimate to him
that he may take into use the confiscated property.
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