'Adminisistration [Administration] Reports 1931-1935' [‎141v] (282/416)

32
CHAPTER V.
Administkation Bei-okt f.v His Majesty’s Consulate, Ivekman, foe the year 1034,
A .—British Interests.
1 His Majesty's Consulate—Personnel.— C. H. Lincoln, O.B.E,
remained in charge of the Consulate throughout the year.
Manor Lincoln left for Bandar Abbas, on tour, on the 19th January and
returned to Kerman on the 25th March. He proceeded on a short visit to
Tehran on the 20th May and returned on the 2nd June. A short visit vas paid
to Bandar Abbas, in company with Major Pybus, Military Attache, to His
Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, between the 19th and 23rd June.
His Majesty’s Consul left for Bandar Abbas, en route to Charbar, on the
26th November, to enquire into the complaints received from certain British
subjects at the latter place.
2. Consulate work, etc.—(a) 29 British subjects were registered at the
-Consulate during the year, the number for 1933 also being 29.
(b) The espionage on the Consulate, which continued during 1931 and
1932 and relaxed in the early part of 1933, was again revived for some time in
October 1934, when men of the local Secret Police were seen to he prying
round the Consulate and houses of members of the clerical staff. It was again
relaxed after His Majesty’s Consul left for Charbar.
(c) The King’s Birthday was celebrated in the usual manner on the 4th
June. A reception was held in the morning and attended by the Governor-
General, his assistant, the Chief of the Municipality, the European community
and heads of foreign firms. In the evening a dinner party was given, to which
the three Persian officials mentioned above and all members of the European
■colony were invited. The Governor-General was unable to come to the latter
function, owing to sudden ill-health, while the Chief of Police was absent on
Loth occasions, on the ground of his having been recalled and his relief’s arrival
being awaited the same day.
(d) Four British Indian motor drivers from Zahidan complained to the
Consulate in the month of April that the Police authorities in Kerman had
confiscated their driving licences and told them that foreigners were not
allowed to work in Persia as motor drivers any more ! The local Chief of
Police, who was approached privately by the Consulate, explained that the men
had been taken to task not on account of their nationality, but because they
had failed to comply with transport regulations. Private enquiries, however,
elucidated the fact that the interference by the Police was nothing more, or
less, than an attempt to induce the parties concerned to part with a portion
of their hire, and, as the complainants eventually proceeded to Yezd without
calling at the Consulate again, it was presumed that the matter had ended by
an ‘ amicable ’ settlement.
(e) An ignorant cultivator incurred the Governor-General’s displeasure
in August by lemarking that the bulk of water in a certain under-ground channel
had increased through the activities of a former British Consul. The offender,
a ei being pi Ol asely abused, was taken to the Government House in a car, hut
released alter severe warning.
The cnannel in question is the one passing through the Consulate grounds
and having been properly repaired by the efforts of Lieut-Colonel E. W. 0.
A >el m 1930, is one ol the few that were not affected by the floods of 1932.
am1 T„Ef ps ’"g? ta] p u ®? r n in the J’ear to have the Consulate buildiiigs
i«m nffito ’ti as le S h mtian cemetery, registered at the local Keg'ista-
ie necessary fees were paid and the required formalities tuinE-E