Page 377 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TIIE YEAR 1000. 7*3
Early in December, a badan carrying 100 rifles with ammunition was
boarded by one of II. M. ships, but the cargo had been jettisoned before sho
was overhauled. Shortly afterwards Persian customs ollicials in the
launch Mazancleran captured a dinghy containing 12 rifles and 500 rounds
of ammunition. The Nakhoda who was captured was fined R250 and beaten
before being released. This is the sum total of successes.
On the other hand, during the nine months under report, according to
information procured here, about 18,000 rifles with 100 rounds of ammuni­
tion per rifle left Maskat for Mckran. According to information received
by the telegraph authorities on the Mckran Coast a total of 10,375 rifles were
landed with about 2,000,000 rounds of ammunition, and also a consignment
of 500 revolvers.
Exports to Gulf ports.—In August, two British India mail steamers
were searched for arms by H. M. S. Sphinx in Maskat harbour and a few
concealed weapons were found which were supposed to lie destined for
Koweit. Major Cox informed the Government of India that this course of
action, if persevered in, would, in all probability, have a prejudicial effect on
the amenablcness of the Sheikh of Koweit and the Sultan of Maskat. As
no practical harm would result from temporary inactivity, since the traffic
to Koweit did not immediately affect British interests, Major Cox asked the
Senior Naval Officer to suspend activity pending intimation of the wishes of
the Government of India. The Government of India approved the Resident’s
action. The arms which were seized were made over to His Highness the
Sultan for disposal.
According to information procured here about 16,000 rifles with 100
rounds per rifle were exported to Koweit, while 2,020 rifles went to other Gulf
ports, Katr, Ras-el-Jebal and Abu Dhabi. Two hundred rifles and ammuni­
tion were also said to have been exported to Dhofar.
Traffic with Somaliland.—In December 1907, the Political Agent was
informed that the Italian Government proposed to send an Agent to Maskat
to organise a service of information regarding the contraband trade in arms
between Maskat and Italian Somaliland. The Political Agent was instructed
to afford the Agent any facilities he might require. In January 1908, the
Italian Government intimated that it was their intention to found a regular
official Consular Agency at Maskat and asked for the co-operation locally
of the British Government both with reference to the Agent’s ordinary duties
and as regards the arms traffic. At the instance of His Majesty’s Govern­
ment, the Italian Government agreed to defer action in the matter until the
result of the Brussels Arms Trade Conference, then sitting, was made known.
In October, the Italian Government again represented the necessity of
sending an Agent to Maskat, in view of the fact that there was little prospect
of an early settlement of the arms trade question. They stated that this
mission would have no political aim, but would furnish valuable information*
and, in the circumstances, was the only means available to them for checking
the important arms traffic between Maskat and Somaliland, where the atti­
tude of the Mullah made the matter urgent.
In the meantime, however, the Political Agent, Captain McConaghey,
had been taking steps locally to prevent the exoort of arms to Somaliland.
On learning that some Somali dhows had arrived in Oman waters he made
three trips in H. M. S. Sphinx along the Oman and Trucial Coasts and
collected the papers of 14 dhows explaining to the Nakhodas that the papers
would be returned before they left Oman waters, provided that the cargo of
the dhow was found in each case to contain no illicit arms. The boats
gathered at Sur on their return journey and the papers of all but one, which
had gone on ahead, were returned to the Nakhodas there, after search. In­
formation regarding the one that had gone on ahead was telegraphed to
Aden for such further action as might be necessary.
The Italian Goyernment were informed in November 1908 of the steps
which had been taken locally *by British Officers, and it was suggested to
them that the objects they had in view would be much better served by the
unobtrusive despatch of a trustworthy native informer than by appointing
a Consular representative. The Italian Government accepted the view ana
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