Page 467 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911_Neat

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1000. 67
ships flying British, German and Russian flags between January 1st and
December 31st, 1909 :—
Number of caokb.
Ships.
Rides. Revolvers. Ammunition. Misoellanooua.

British 484 A 2,768 7
German 082 23 2,440 1
Russian • 3

Total 1,409 27 6.198 8

According to information procured from His Highness’ Customs the
total number af rifles imported was 43,155 and the average number of rifles
in a case was therefore 29-38.
The figures for the nine months covered by last year’s Administration
Report were:—

Numbeb of cases.
Rifles. Revolvers. Ammunition. Percussion caps.

1,783 15 5,303 10

and the total number of rifles imported during the period was 80,190, so
that there has been a considerable falling off in imports. It is difficult to
say with certainty to what reason the decrease is due. Local reports attri­
bute it to the apprehension which was aroused as to the probable result of
the Brussels Arms Conference. Possibly, the severe illness and eventual*
death, on October 16th, of Monsieur Goguyer, the notorious arras merchant,
may have had something to do with it. Possibly also the local market was
rather overstocked.
Export to Me hr an Coast.—From Appendix V to this report it will be
seen that 27.786 rifles, 1,774,600 rounds of ammunition and 300,pistols are
known to have been exported to the Mekran Coast. It is probable 'that many
more pistols were exported than have been accounted for. Large quantities
of arms and ammunition were exported to Katr, Bahrain, Kuwait and
Persia, but no reliable figures can be procured regarding these. Exports to
Somaliland were insignificant.
Captures—From Appendix VI it will be seen that the captures made
by His Majesty's ships during the year accounted for 6,S97 rifles "and 825,400
rounds of ammunition. The captures effected by H. M. S. “ Fox ” in March de­
pressed the trade temporarily, but small consignments continued to be run
across during the hot weather, and, early in September, there was a vigorous
recrudescence of the smuggling. Several large consignments were then carried
across and stored at places near the coast pending the arrival of Afghan pur­
chasers. The captures made by His Majesty s ships early in December
paralysed the trade and, at the time of writing,* it has not recovered from the
blows inflicted. It is significant that a considerable proportion of the rifles
captured consisted of small bore magazine weapons and that some of the
ammunition was found to contain expanding bullets.
Brmscls Arms Conference.-The Brussels International Arms Conference
broke up in December without achieving any result affecting the trade at
Mr. Muhammad Fazil, a Khoja British subject, was in charge of the
Foreign Con sail. American Consulate as Vice and Depute
SN-. Mr. J A. n.y