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whether there would be any difficulty in inducing the Sultan of Maskat to issue
an order prohibiting the importation of arms into Gwadur except when required
for the use of His Highness' troops stationed there.
With regard to the 20 cases of Enfield rifles detained at Karachi, the
Collector was informed that the transhipment license for Gwadur should be
refused.
Prohibition by the Sultan of Maskat Of the arms trade at Gwadur,
1891.
12. In March, 1891, the case having been represented to the Sultan of
Maskat, His Highness issued an order
Pro., Secret E., May 1891, Nos. 9—
14. prohibiting the import of arms or ammuni
tion into Gwadur territory, or their removal
therefrom.
Application by the Bombay Government for a license to tranship
cartridges, 1892.
13. In April, 1892, the Bombay Government reported that the British India
Company had applied for a license to
Pro., Secret E., July 1892, Nos. 264
—268. tranship 102,000 cartridges for Falia on
the Persian Gulf, and stated that, as the
case was urgent, the Government of India might refer to the Persian Govern
ment or might see reason to let it pass at once.
Subsequent enquiries elicited the information that the cartridges were
sporting, loaded with shot and were for the Sheikh Mizal of Falia.
The Resident at Bushire suggested that the acquiescence of the Persian
Government was desirable as the import of ammunition was prohibited. The
Bombay Government were accordingly directed to ascertain whether the con
signor or consignee had got permission from the Persian authorities.
Representation by the Consul-General at Zanzibar regarding the
arms trade with Maskat, 1892,
14. In a telegram received from the Secretary of State, dated the 22nd
April 1892, it was stated that the Consul-
Pro., External A., September 1892. General at Zanzibar had reported that
Nos. 63—83.
large quantities of guns were .constantly
being shipped thence to Maskat, outside the zone of prohibition of traffic in
arms under the eighth article of the Brussels Conference Act. It was believed that
many of these arms returned to Africa, and in view of this it was asked whether
the Sultan of Maskat would prohibit re-exportation.
15. The Resident in the Persian Gulf who was asked to report on the
matter, stated that no re-exportation had taken place from Maskat, but that
possibly some had been re-pxported from Sur, and added that the Sultan of
Maskat had issued a notification prohibiting re-exportation.
This informatipn was communicated to the Secretary of State on the 4th
May 1892.
The possibility of checking the arms traffic discussed, 1892.
16. The Secretary of State in his Political despatch No. 23, dated the 14th
April, in forwarding a copy of correspondence from the Foreign Office, requested
that any suggestions the Government of India might have to offer, in view of the
possibility of checking the traffic, should be forwarded to his Lordship for com
munication to the Foreign Office.
The Resident, Persian Gulf, who was asked to report on this despatch,
stated that Dr. Jayakar admitted that unusually large consignments of arms had
reached Maskat of late, forwarded to British Indian subjects and chiefly imported