Coll 30/114 'Proceedings of H.M. Ships.' [‎333r] (665/1203)

31.
• • • • •
at Kerbela in 681 A.D. The recitation of the etory was at
firet left alone, hut later that was stopped* This abrupt
step taken against a long standing religious practice has
exasperated the general public, priests and preachers.
They consider it heretical and sacrilegious, but owing to
th^ strength of the Central Government, they dare not give
vent to their feelings. (Bushire I.R.)
Emigration of Khuzistan tribes into Iraq .
The Iranian Government is reported to be considerably
pertrubed over the emigration of large sections of their
Arab frontier tribes into Iraq, as it will decrease their
revenue from the Koda and other taxes. In view of the known
desire of many others to follow their example, the Iranian
Government has taken strict steps to stop this exodus and
has reinforced the frontier posts. (R.A.F.Int.Report)
96, Smuggling . This is still being actively carried on
from all ports into the interior. In Bushire a month*s
captures only amounted to seven bales of piece goods, two
bags of tea, three donkey loads of tobacco and one mound
of opium* It is reported from the Bazaar that many Iranian
dhows are now taking wheat and sheep to Bahrein and purchasing
cotton piece goods and tea to smuggle back into Iran.
557 • Outlaws . Banditry still continues in the
vicinity of Bushire and in the orovince of Tangistan* An
attempt was made irwease the Road Guards by calling up
the Customs Guard*. but as they were only offered 70 Rials
as against the 90 they formerly received, the majority
refused to serve and were disbanded. (^ushire I.R.)
Japanese arrested . Ihiring the first week of
April Mr. Massouda, a partner of the Japanese Portland
Cement Co., Osaka, and representing other Japanese firms,
who had come to Iran some two months ago to negotiate
business, was arrested by the Police authorities at Bushire
for having two pieces of stone from P^rsepolic in his
portmanteau. He alleges that he bought them from a
vorkman for 10 Rials. Actually he got them out of the
country once when he went to Baghdad and it was only on hie
return to Bushire by Royal Dutch Air Line that they were
discovered* On ?6th April he was removed to Shiraz for
further enquiries and trial by a competent court.
(Bushire I*R.)
. . .IgMc Monopolies* The granting of monopolies to
t^%^ t ’ 8 i di uf d K C f npa ?v es continue s. A company has now
been formed which has the sole right to export Iranian rugs
The authorised capital is £375,000, of which
£175,000 has already been subscribed; the majority of the
shares are held by the National Bank of Iran. The sole
right for the importation of alcoholic drinks has been given
to another state subsidised company which formerly dealt
exclusively in hats. (R.A.F.Int.Report)
, +< 30 - OPium trad e in the Shlras Area . The area under
cultivation"of white poppies ^or opium in this oart of Iran
was stated to be three times greater than in 1935. Most of
this opium is exported over the U.S.S.R. border for the Far
East, thus giving the U.S.S.R. a strong hold over Iran,
opium being one of the mein sources of revenue. It ie
probably on this account that Japanese ships have recently
become active in exporting opium from Gulf ports.
(S.N.O., P.G.)