'Administration Reports 1905-1910' [‎105v] (215/616)

20 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. POLITICAL RESIDENC?
Monsieur Andre Miller and Dr. Listemann remained as Russian
German representatives respectively, the former summering at Shiraz and
latter going on deputation to Tehran in May and returning in November
and
the
Fdreign Monsieur Chaloin after nearly two years' absence returned to the Pren k
Representatives. Vice-Consulate in December and resumed charge from Mirza Ali Reza Khan
The rainfall was scanty and fell inconveniently and in the neighbourhool
of Bushire the harvest promised to be not more than a 6 anna one.
Rainfall and
Harvest.
The results of the meteorological observations recorded in the Hesidenc
are appended hereto in tabular statements Nos. 1 and 2, ^
SHIRAZ (FAES).
(Furnished by Mir J. H. B ill, His Britannic Majesty's Consul, Shiraz.)
The apprehensions expressed by Mr. Grahame last year were fully
realised, the period under review presenting an almost continuous record of
public commotion. In fact, the old theatrical direction " Confused noise
without " is the most adequate expression to the effect produced on a student
of Shiraz politics during this troubled year.
The two main foci of disturbances were Qavam-ul-Mulk on the one side
and the religious leaders, wearing a mask of constitutionalism, on the other.
The incapacity of the local authorities to deal with the situation, so far
as it was not due to natural inaptitude, was the result of the uncertainty in
which all the operations of Government were involved by the divided control
of Shah and Parliament.
ittes? 1 autll0r " The year opened with the appointment of Prince Moayyed-ed-Douleh as
n „ , Governor-General. Be arrived on Anril
Governor -GfDeral. _ ^,, . . j . ,
15th, but never contrived to acquire
any real control over the Shiraz situation. He was ill during the greater part
of his period of office and departed almost unnoticed on June 13th.
His successor, Nizam-es-Sultaneh, was a man of very different stamp.
One of the most distinguished of present day Persians, with a reputation of
firmness and capacity, he was expected to do great things, but his failure
was scarcely less complete than that of his predecessor. This must be attributed
in the main to the political uncertainty, which disarmed the executive, while
the legislature was unfit to support the burden which it had assumed.
Mzam-es-Sultaneh, after several abortive attempts to resign, finally left
Shiraz on November 3rd, and strangely enough, the period of interregnum
which followed during which such authority as existed was in the hands of
Khabir-ed-Douleh, the local Telegraph. Master, was the part of the year
which saw the establishment of a modus vivendi between the two hostile
parties. The interregnum closed with the return to power, with the title of
Sahib Ikhtiar, of the Vizir Makhsous, an amiable nonentity, much harassed by
pecuniary embarrassments. He arrived on February 8th and rtmained till
the end of the year, though the appointment of His Imperial Highness Zill-es-
Sultan was notified on March i7th.
Nebil-es-Sultaneh continued to display the same incapacity as Karguzar
Kargnzar. which was described last year by
Mr. Grahame, He was succeeded on
December 12th, as a temporary measure, by Muvaqqar-ed-Douleh, late
Karguzar of Bushire, whose intelligence and capacity are most unusual among
Persian officials. Unfortunately he refused to accept the appointment
permanently and was succeeded on the 13th of March by Moazed ud Douleh.
The latter though hampered by ill-health and ignorance of the local conditions
of Ears, to which he is a stranger, has given evidence of good-wi. 1 ! and a desire
to do what he can to forward public business.