Page 434 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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them that the trade in arms was illegal, and that all arms found would be con­
fiscated. A similar warning was given to British subjects in Maskat. The
Sultan further gave a written permission to British and Persian vessels of war to
seize in Maskat waters British, Persian and Maskat vessels with arms consigned
to British and Persian ports ; also to seize Maskat vessels in British and Persian
waters and to confiscate the arms found on board. In December, 1897, Sir
A. Hardingc had, in accordance with instructions received from the London
Foreign Office, requested the Commanders of Her Majesty’s ships in the Persian
Gulf, through the Resident at Bushire, to do their utmost to intercept and seize
in Persian waters the S. S. " Baluchistan,” which was known to have shipments
of arms on board,—warning was also conveyed of the attempt that would probably
be made to divert the whole cargo of arms to Maskat. The conclusion of the
agreement with the Government of Maskat permitted action to be taken by
Her Majesty's ships in the waters of Maskat, and the " Baluchistan ” was seized
on the 24th January 1898 by H. M. S. " Lapwing ” near Maskat, and the
cargo of arms was landed and made over to the British Consul pending instruc­
tions as to their disposal. It was thought that the seizure of arms on board
the S. S. “ Baluchistan” together with the seizure already made at Bushire,
would strike a most effective blow at the traffic of arms in the Persian Gulf.
In speaking with regard to the arms question in Bushire, the Consul-General
stated that there were undoubtedly still large numbers of arms which had been
secreted by British and native firms, but that it would be extremely difficult to
obtain information as to where they had been hidden.
Sir A. Hardinge stated that the feeling in Bushire during the recent seizures
ran so high that it would be desirable before any further seizures were made,
that a gunboat should be present in the harbour while search was being made.
The Firman Firma, who, as Governor of Fars and the Gulf ports, farmed the
revenues of the customs, had placed every possible obstruction in the way of the
seizure of arms, and—said Sir A. Hardinge—had endeavoured to bribe the ministers
to cease their opposition to the importation of arms, but without success. His
Highness, who undoubtedly had made large profits by the importation of arms,
at this time announced to the Persian Government that he had given up the
farming of the customs of the Southern Ports.

Decision of the Sultan’s Court regarding the legality of the seizure
of arms on the S. S. “ Baluchistan,” 1898.
37. On the 16th April, 1898, the Resident in the Persian Gulf reported that
Pro. No. 353. the Sultan of Maskat had held a terri­
torial Court to adjudicate on the legality
of the seizure of arms ex S. S. ” Baluchistan." Further that His Highness had
confirmed the decision of the Court, and considered that the capture of the
arms was lawful, although the port of destination had been changed from Bushire
to Maskat. His reasons for this view were set forth in his decision, which was
a? follows:—
a Whereas this day the 15th April, 1898, we, that is to say, I, Saeed-bin-Muhammad, the
Wazeer of His Highness the Sultan of Maskat, and I, Badr-bin-Seif, held a court by
the order of His Highness Sayyid Feysal-bin-Turki, Sultan of Maskat, for enquiring into the
circumstances under which certain arms and ammunition ex S. S. “ Baluchistan "of Swansea
No. 104951 were seized by the British man-of-war “ Lapwing 11 on the 24th January, 1898,
near this port in the territorial waters of His Highness the Sultan of Maskat, and whereas
we have examined Lieutenant Commander G. Carr, R.N. (C.M.G.), Commander of the
t( Lapwing," and heard his evidence on solemn affirmation and have examined the bills
of lading, manifests, and papers and telegrams which the above mentioned commander pro-
duced, we find after a full enquiry and deliberation as follows :—
(1) That the said arms and ammunition ex S.S. ” Baluchistan ” were seized by the
British man-of-war “ Lapwing."
(2) That the seizure was in every respect legal and in accordance with the permisk
sion given by His Highness the Sultan to British men-of-war at the request
of the British and Persian Governments.
(3) That those arms and ammunition were intended for Persian ports.