Page 439 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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Even had the arms not been seized, it is very doubtful whether as they were in transit,
he could have claimed any customs dues on them at all ’
If he is already the gainer of 35,000 by our action, and further there is a chance
(which I suppose there is) of his getting something out of the value of the confiscated arms,
why should we give him anything at all ? ”

Rifles imported via the Persian Gulf found on the North-West
Frontier, 1898.

40. In December, 1898, it was reported that Captain Roos-Keppel had
Secret F., March 1899, Nos. 178—201. purchased from tribesmen in Kurram two
Martini-Henry rifles of the type imported
in the Persian Gulf, and that the man from whom he had purchased them said
he could get numbers more from the tribesmen.

The danger through wholesale importation of'arms into Persia.
41. Sir Mortimer Durand, writing to the Foreign Office on the 1st June,
Secret E., March 1899, Nos. 261—563. 1898, said—
0 There can be no doubt whatever that the wholesale importation of arm9 of precision
into Persia is dangerous to the peace of the country, and consequently injurious to our trade,
and it may iu time prove to be a difficulty with which the Persian Government will find it has
not the power to cope. I think the Sadr-i-Azam should be supported in taking stringent
measures to put an end to the import, and that the firms which have suffered from the con­
fiscation of their illicit cargoes should be left to bear the loss. It is true that the import
has been allowed to go on in spite of the prohibition; but the firms concerned seem to
have known quite well that they were doing what they had no right to do. They chose to
run the risk, and have doubtless made large profits. There is no serious hardship in their
now being left to suffer some loss/'
4a. Replying to a question asked in the House of Commons, Mr. Curzon
stated that the prohibition of the import
Pro. No. 299, ibid.
of arms into Persia could only be the act
of the Persian Government. In the case of the other Governments possessing
territories on or in the neighbourhood of the Persian Gulf, viz., the Government
of India and the Turkish Government, a similar prohibition existed ; whilst it was
also being enforced in their own territories by the Sultan of Maskat and the
Sheikh of Bahrein. Further, that special inquiries had been made as to whether
the prohibition enacted by the Persian Government was being equally enforced
against arms of other than British origin, and that it was found that the prohibi­
tion was universal and that the import of foreign, no less than of British arms,
has ceased.

Representation of Messrs. Fracis, Times & Co. regarding recent j
seizures of their arms, 1898.

43. Messrs. Fracis, Times & Co. had for some time been in lengthy
Pto. No. 308, ibid. correspondence with the Secretary of
0 State for India with reference to the seizure
of certain cases of arms and ammunition exported by them to the Persian Gulf.
The Secretary of State writing to the Foreign Office on the 9th August, 1898, and
referring to the seizure of arms at Bahrein, regarding which Messrs. Fracis, Times
& Co. had written :—“It appears that recently arms and ammunition belonging to
us of the value of upwards of 2,000 sterling have been seized and confiscated
by the British Consul at Bahrein,” said
“ The true facts appear to be these. In 1896 Messrs. Fracis, Times asked the Assistant
Resident at Bushire to give them a letter of introduction to the Chief of Bahrein for com­
mercial purposes. Thereupon they.were required to give an assurance that they did not
intend to deal in arms there, an assurance which must at least have reminded them of'the