File 948/1909 'Persia: Situation in the South; Condition of the Roads. Attack on Mr Bill. Road Guard Scheme.' [‎342v] (689/744)

The following figures show clearly the rise from the normal since the period of
anarchy commenced *
Krans.
per 737 lb., 185 miles .. .. .. 90, 80, 60
95-80-100-110
1900
1901
1902
1904
1905
March 1906-7
„ 1907-8
„ 1908-9
„ 1909-10
(Or a rise from, approximately, 1/. 9s. to 5/. 3s.)
80
80-90
85-95-75-95-110
150-220-140-150
160-120-110-90-140
140-160-170-220
200-250-300
Insurance.
A further proof oi the straits to which _ commerce has been reduced along the
bhiraz load is shown in the premium rates of insurance companies in England.
Formerly 15s. per 100Z. was accepted by most underwriters for cotton bales from
Manchester to Shiraz and Ispahan, and included risk of robbery. In 1907 the rate was
dOs., I think; while in 1908 the long list of robberies had sent the rate up to 40s and
very tew companies could be found to accept the risk. By April 1909 practically all
insurance to Shiraz was refused in England, war risks being asked, which means 5Z. to
10Z. per 100Z.
The result is that the risk of robbery between Bushire and Shiraz falls on the
British exporter, not on the insurance company as hitherto, nor on the Persian buyer.
Recovery of Claims.
Recovery of claims was, up till 1906, frequently effected from the Pars Government,
Dut during the last eighteen months claims for British merchandise stolen on the
ushirc Shiraz road, with a value of 3,810 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. (approximately 6201.), have been
adtinc ThA v d n UnaMe “ de 1 t0 by the Persian authorities. These claims were
advanced by British agencies alone.
Prospects of Order being restored.
any govi^enirafn/p ° n ^ “re-Shiraz route that it is doubtful if
order ° arS W1 ^ lave f^e necessary influence and troops to restore
the B^itish m fl,,tWv ned i m ^ fo ™ ardin g business to the interior appear to look to
it£r.fd sSEsySs&s* t ■»"' “ “»a - ■—
days^aThat b^hk beb f W0 P . r t incipal Pe f ian merchants in Bushire, told me a few
that nossiWv ’ Z M beh ® f ’. “ atters become even worse to what they were, and
of^rstfLd ^ g r Ve POl i tical results > wo " ld certainl/ mean the
capltaTemployed ° n 3 larg6 SCale ' with the resultant effects th e British
depreckitiim' the ra7e V im“ g f d ir rderS .r the tW ° southem roads have had the effect of
suffice for fheiutc ?^ ro^rn customs to an amount which quite fails to
™, fo ; B, ““ lo “ “ <1 * h * "“»** *V<i o. , 1 ,.
smug^linf 7s PO ha-rin^ “c^ewhere to the disastrous effect which wholesale
wThX foad Question Stablllty ° f traderS ’ but 14 is ^roctly connected
Policing of the Road.
policing ofthe^mds 40 !^! securit y fOT tra de in the South is the proper
time despairs of this, unless it is^doneundTr WgnTupervlton 11 PerSia PreSent
Compr y er whffih g wo7lTfurn7sh ^ ^ f ° rW n ard ’ SUCh 38 tbe formati O“ a transport
guards c’ortrolffirbv ofc 7°T ; the eIlli «tmcnt of a corps of Persian
the IndiaTa-my orThc te7 ’ 3 'T™ ° f ““-commissioned officers and men of
ajmi ’ ° r the temporary employment of an Indian pioneer regiment on the
®tres or c
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