Page 140 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

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they desired to do so, I doubt if they have the
power.”
Tho Government of India have done their best
to check tho trade at the Persian porks. In 1000
a Vice-Consul was appointed (o Bunder Abbas,
whore “ it was hoped that the presence of a British
officer might lend to the display of greater vigour
in the repression of the illicit importation of
arms along tho neighbouring portions of the
Persian const.” In 1002 measures were con­
certed with tho Persian Governor-General of
Mekran to provent the importation of arms into
Persian Baluchistan, and to imposo restrictions
on their possession in that provinco. A further
Conference on the subject took place between the
Persian officials on tho Mekran border and the
British frontier officers in 190G, and tho desire
to cope with the illegal traffic in arms was one
of tho reasons which led, in the same year, to the
temporary appointment of Licutcnaut G. I).
Ogilvio as Vice-Consul at Bam.
But the nature of tho country is such that,
once the consignments are landed and clear of
the coast, it is virtually impossible to catch
the caravans conveying them into the interior.
This view is confirmed by the .Report furnished
by Lieutenant Ogilvio, who travelled through
Persian Baluchistan in June 190G on his way
to tako up his duties at Bam. lie said that the
local Persian authorities were quito incapuble of
dealing with the traffic, and that the Afghans
employed in smuggling arms up country from
the coast were invariably well armed, and could
overcome any opposition offered to them with
the greatest ease ; and ho explained in a later
Report tliat “ tho communications in Baluchistan
are so unspeakably bad that large caravans, when
once they have left the coast, can travel without
any fear of interference, even if such interference
were contemplated by the authorities, and with
the utmost secrecy.” It may bo added that tho
Sirdars of Persian Baluchistan are not beyond
the suspicion of having a pecuniary interest in
the trade.
As recently as November 1907 further measures
were introduced by the Government of India, at
the suggestion of Mr. New, of the Indo-European
Telegraph Department, for dealing with the arms
traffic on the Mekran coast. These measures
included the creation of a small corps of camel
sowars to patrol the coast between Jask and

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