Political (External) Collection 7: Arms, Ammunition and Arms Traffic

IOR/L/PS/12/2171-2221

Political (External) Collection 7: Arms, Ammunition and Arms Traffic

1912-1949

This collection consists of files relating to the administration and control of arms, ammunition and arms traffic in India and the Gulf region. The materials were created and accumulated by the India Office Political Department, and largely consist of correspondence with the Foreign Office, the Board of Trade, and various HM Legations and Embassies. The files also contain correspondence with other Governments, and with a number of European arms firms. The primary topic is the sale of arms, ammunition and other military equipment. A large number of the files concern negotiations with the Government of Afghanistan; the rest cover dealings with Tibet, Nepal, Burma [Myanmar], China, Chinese Turkestan, Aden, Persia [Iran], Muscat, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. The arms were sourced from Government of India and HMG surplus stock, and also from British firms. The files document the active promotion of the use of British and Indian arms and ammunition, in order to strengthen friendly relationships, produce a dependence on Britain and India for resupply, and to prevent rival European powers from establishing commercial and military influence in the region. The files also contain information on the purchase of arms and equipment from European firms. The following topics also appear in the files:. The India Office's role in the arms licensing system. The sub-series contains papers regarding applications for export licences, and the issue of 'no objection' certificates; Arms control regulations and agreements, including negotiations over international conventions, and bilateral treaty negotiations with Persia [Iran]; Attempts to prevent arms trafficking, and information on arms movements in the Gulf region; The strategic and military situation of India and surrounding countries; The state of the international market in arms during the First World War (1914-1918), the inter-war period, and the Second World War (1939-1945); Competing European interests in the Gulf, Asia and the Middle East during the First World War, the inter-war period, and the Second World War

Reference IOR/L/PS/12/2197 was not used.

The Collections of the India Office Political (External) Department are arranged by file, and occasionally by part number. For example, the reference Coll 7/37(2) is composed of the collection reference 7 (Arms), the file number 37 (Afghanistan), and the part number 2.

Collection 7

Public Record(s)

English; French; Italian; Portuguese

48 files, 2 volumes (7468 folios).

Unrestricted

This sub-series comprises files of papers, and volumes.