IOR/L/PS/20/FO39

This volume contains copies of two publications:

• ‘Part I. Correspondence respecting Trade in Arms in Persia, Muscat, &c. 1880-1898’
• ‘Part II. Further Correspondence respecting the Traffic in Arms in the Persian Gulf, &c. 1898-99.’

These publications were printed for the use of the Foreign Office in February and March 1899 respectively.

The publications contain correspondence dated 7 May 1880-22 December 1899 and enclosures. Subjects covered in this correspondence include:

• Discussions around the impact of arms imports on British interests in the Persian Gulf, Persia [Iran], Afghanistan, and the Northwest Frontier of India
• Proposed measures to restrict arms traffic in the Gulf, and diplomatic, legal, and economic issues around this
• A prohibition on the import of arms issued by the Government of Persia in 1881
• A prohibition on the import of arms and ammunition into Gwadur [Gwadar] issued by the Sultan of Muscat in 1891
• An agreement with the Government of Persia in December 1897 permitting British ships to search merchant vessels trading in the Gulf and confiscate and hand over to the Government of Persia any prohibited arms found on board
• An agreement with the Sultan of Muscat in January 1898, by which British and Persian ships may search for and confiscate arms and ammunition bound for India or Persia and belonging to British, Persian, or Muscat subjects from vessels in the territorial waters of or carrying the flag of Muscat
• An agreement the Sheikh [Shaikh] of Bahrein [Bahrain] in February 1898 on the same terms as the Muscat agreement, and a subsequent agreement in April 1898 absolutely prohibiting the import to and export from Bahrein of arms and ammunition
• Measures introduced at ports in Britain to monitor arms exports to the Gulf
• Reports and tables produced by customs authorities detailing arms shipments to the Gulf, in particular from Manchester custom house, and also from London, Newport, and Cardiff
• Reports from HM Vice-Consul in Liège on Belgian arms exported to the Gulf
• Reports on the movements of ships carrying arms to the Gulf
• The seizure of arms and ammunition by the Malek Tujar [Malik al-Tudjār], merchant and Government Preventive Officer, in Bushire [Bushehr] in December 1897
• Seizures of arms and ammunition by British ships in the Gulf, in particular by HMS Lapwing from the ship Baluchistan off Muscat in January 1898
• The seizure of arms and ammunition by the Sheikh of Bahrein in January 1898, and a related dispute between the arms traders Fracis, Times and Co, the merchant and British agent Agha Mahomed Rahim Saffar [Muḥammad Raḥīm bin ‘Abd al-Nabī Ṣafar, also spelled Suffer], the Vizier of Bahrein, and the Sheikh concerning a cancelled concession to import arms to Bahrein
• Protests to British officials from arms manufacturers and traders following seizures of arms
• Court cases resulting from seizures of arms, in particular Fracis, Times and Co versus the Sea Insurance Company
• Rules and regulations for the registration with the Political Agent and Consul of arms and ammunition owned, imported, or sold by British subjects in Muscat
• Investigations by the Government of India into arms and ammunition present on the Northwest Frontier, and ammunition traded in the Muscat Bazaar
• Representations from the Belgian Minister in London concerning arms and ammunition from Belgium seized from the Baluchistan
• Representations from the Imperial German Ambassador in London, Consul in Shiraz, and Acting Consul in Bushire concerning German-owned arms and ammunition seized from the Baluchistan
• Reports on arms traffic from informants in Persia
• A complaint by the Italian Consul-General in Zanzibar that arms and ammunition are being trafficked from Muscat to the Benadir Coast Protectorate [Somalia]
• The arrival of a French subject, Antonin Goguyer, and his assistant in Muscat in 1899 with the intention of trading in arms
• The claim of the Sultan of Muscat for compensation for losses caused by restrictions on arms traffic.

Key correspondents include:

• The Foreign Office
• The Foreign Secretary
• The India Office
• The Government of India
• The Secretary of State for India
• The Political Resident in the Persian Gulf
• The Political Agent and Consul in Muscat
• HM Minister Plenipotentiary in Tehran
• The Admiralty and naval officers
• HM Customs, in particular Manchester Custom-house
• HM Vice-Consul in Liège
• The Government of Persia, in particular the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
• The Sultan of Muscat
• The Sheikh of Bahrein
• Various arms traders, manufacturers, shipping agents, and solicitors.

A small amount of correspondence in French is present in the volume, mostly from the Belgian Minister in London.

A table of contents is included before each publication.