Page 66 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

56 Records of Bahrain

tho Shatt-ol-Arab river, tho crew wero killed by fire-arms. This outrngo
is not_tho only one of a similar character, and in April last tho Assistant
Political Agont at Basrah reported that Hasan Ithyun intended to
intorforo with tho steamers of the Euphrates and Tigris Stoam Navi­
gation Company plying on tho river. Then again, on tho Arab coast,
tho intervention of tho Indian Government to uphold tho Sultan of
Mnskat’s authority has been more than once exercised of late years, and
tho arming of the rebels is folt by llis Highness to constitute an
olemout of danger to tho Sultan’s rule. Tho attack upon tho British
survoy party in Baluchistan, and tho murder of Mr. Graves on tho
Persian sido of tho bordor, which followed tho perpetration of several
attacks upon tho property and persons of British subjects iu the omploy
of tho Indo-European Tolcgraph Department, illustrate a condition of
affairs which must bo seriously aggravated by allowing an illicit traffic
in arms to continuo. In this connection I am to iuvito attention to my
letter of tho IItil of May last, suggesting tho need for systematic
enforcement by the Persian Govcrnmont of its regulations against all
importers and others who aro taking part in tho prohibited traffic iu
arms. Lastly there is tho danger felt in 1880, when only caps, smooth
boro guns, and even flint locks were being carried through Persian ports
into Afghanistan. It was ascertained by special inquiry that Biiucli
and Afghan agents were, during tho late frontier disturbances, sent down
to Maskat to await the arrival of tho S.S. “Trcsco” and “ Baluchistan.”
The makors in Belgium, who have supplied Messrs. Fracis Times and
others with Martini-Henry rifles, procured last year from England tho
exact dimensions of tho chambers of the rifles used by the Indian
Government; and-nlthough Messrs. Eracis Times state that the market
is glutted, tho traffic attained its highest dimensions last year, when the
Indian Frontier was most disturbed. Sovcral cases of tho identical
cartridges which woro exported from Manchester but mado in Belgium
wero found iu February last in the house of Mir Suku in Pasni, and
Afghan caravans wero in April last awaiting in tho neighbourhood of
Bandar Abbas their expected consignments. Unfortunately- the tribes­
men on the frontier almost invariably succeed in carrying off tho arms
of those who fall in battle, and it is not to bo expected that tho arms
which they surrender at leisure should bo their best weapons. But
sufficient information has already been obtained to show that the
opinion expressed in July 1880 by tbo Government of India, that “ tho
“ control of the. export of this ammunition to the Persian littoral has
*' become a roattor of special political and military importance,” has
lost none of its force; and tho single fact that the isle of Bahrein under
British protection should have been silently used as a dop6t for arms
of precision ompbasiscs tho need for increased vigilauco in tho futuro.
I am, &c.,
The Under Secretary of State, A. Godley.
Foreign Office.

No. 2.
The Times,, 5th July 1898.
Commercial Court.
(Before Mr. Justico Bighnm.)
Fracis Times & Co. a. The Sea Insurance Company (Limited).
• ™dg!£ent wa8 dclivcred in this caso to-day. Tho case was reported
m The Tmes of 25th and 30th June. Tho facts aro fully stated in tho
judgment.
Mr. Bickford, Q.C., and Mr. Hollams appeared for tho Plaintiils;
Mr. Joseph Walton, Q.O., Mr. Carvor, Q.O., and Mr. Sorutton for tho