Page 474 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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Maskat a large quantity of rifles (about 500) with ammunition in proportion
and had taken them with him to Sur. It was possible that these munitions
were intended by the purchaser and his fellows of the French flag for
subsequent export to Somaliland when their dhows proceeded on their post-
monsoon voyages to the Gulf of Aden, with cargoes of dates. Major Cox further
stated that he had reason to believe that the purchase money was made up of
subscriptions from various dhow-owners.
92. On the 23rd July 1903, the Admiral, East Indian Station, informed
Enclo. No. 1 to Fro. No. 42. Major Cox that it had been reported on
good native authority that from 3,000 to
4,000 rifles and ammunition had been landed on the Italian Somaliland coast
about 3 months aj*o from Maskat, and were now at a village two days’ march
inland from Boreida, and that it was said that they were consigned to the
Sultan Othman Mahmud, who was selling them to the tribes and Mulla, with the
latter of whom he was in league.
93. In drawing the attention of the Government of India to this report,
Major Cox pointed out that seeing His Majesty’s ships could not interfere with
dhows under the French flag on the high seas, it was difficult to devise any
effective measures for preventing the arms reaching their destination except the
close and vigilant patrolling of Sultan Othman Mahmud’s coast. Referring
to his previous recommendation for the appointment of a British Agent at Sur,
Major Cox said that if a trade in smuggled arms between that post and the
Mullah’s adherents was proved to exist, the fact seemed to afford a lively
argument in favour of such a measure.
94. Regarding the appointment of a British Agent at Sur, the Government
of India doubted whether there was now more need for the appointment than
there had been previously,-in fact seeing that the Sultan now had his steamer in
which he could move freely up and down the coast, and that additional gun
boats were now to be available, thus diminishing the difficulty of the Political
Agent’s visiting Sur tfhen occasion arose, the need seemed to have become less.
In any case, it seemed inadvisable to send an Agent to this centre of French
influence, until the question of Anglo-French relations at Maskat had been
settled one way or the other.

Traffic in arms between Maskat and Koweit. Intention of M.
Goguyer to establish a branch of his business at Koweit, 1904.
95. The Political Resident in the Persian Gulf telegraphing on the 28th
Secret E., May 1904, Nos. 48—60. January 1904 said that Captain Grey had
informed him that the British India Steamer
"Chindwara” had sailed from Maskat on the 26th January with 500 rifles
for Koweit; the arms had been shipped secretly, and the ship’s Agent, Goguyer,
was a passenger on the steamer. Colonel Kemball stated that he was informing
Sheikh Mobarek that he was expected to enforce the prohibition with regard to
the consignment. It was understood that the Sheikh was the only person who
could legally enforce the prohibition, and therefore, the seizure of the consign­
ment had better be left to him.
Colonel Kemball was instructed* that he could not seize the consignment
* Pro. No. 49 ibid, *n a British harbour or on the high seas,
1 * but that the consignment should be seized
by the Sheikh as soon as clear proof existed of the intention to land. If possible
arrangements should be made for a man-of-war to watch the proceedings at
Koweit, aud the Consuls at Muhammerah and Basrah should be informed in case
the arms should be carried on.
96. On the'i8th February 1904, Colonel Kemball telegraphed that it had
been reported that the “ Gulistan ” which
Pro. No. 52.
had left Maskat on the 16th February, had
taken^arms of unknown quantity for Mons. Goguyer at Koweit. Further that
private information from Basrah had stated that 1,000 rifles and 300,000 cartridges

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