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File 948/1909 'Persia: Situation in the South; Condition of the Roads. Attack on Mr Bill. Road Guard Scheme.' [358r] (720/744)
The record is made up of 1 volume (370 folios). It was created in 1909-1911. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.!
[December 17.]
Section 4.
[44060] • No, 1.
Messrs. Dixon and Co. to Foreign Office.—(Received December 17.)
Whitworth House, Princess Street, Manchester,
Sir, • December 16, 1908.
WE have the honour to address you in connection with the state of trade conditions
in Persia. No doubt you are aware that owing to the political situation in Persia
British trade is practically at a standstill. The chief factor which operates against
trade is the insecurity of the roads, and, owing to the very frequent and serious
robberies that have been taking place now for very many months, the Insurance
Companies in England are in many cases declining to insure goods in Persia at all, or
else insuring them at a rate that is prohibitive. This applies to British firms, but even
when the goods have reached the trade centres the large native dealers are themselves
unable to distribute them in the outlying districts for fear of robbery.
Another very serious matter is that, owing to the exactions of the local Khans
along the trade routes, who take heavy tolls from the muleteers as they pass along,
rates of mule hire are rising to an exorbitant figure, and the muleteers themselves are
deserting the roads, so that not only is transport excessively expensive, but it is
becoming daily more scarce and difficult to obtain. Under these circumstances we feel
that it is not out of place for us to respectfully suggest that road patrols, possibly Indian
soldiers, accompany each large caravan of goods. The presence of Indian soldiers, lent
to the Persian authorities for convoying large caravans of goods, would not have in the
slightest degree a political character, as they would be there purely to safeguard British
property or Persian property with the authority of the Shah.
We earnestly beg to urge upon you the extreme necessity of some action of this
kind, and beg to tender our thanks for the assistance we have had in the past and for
the help and protection you will be able to extend at the present time.
We are, &c.
(Signed) H. C. DIXON and Co.
PERSIA.
^NEIDENTIAL.
[2052 r—4]
About this item
- Content
The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes relating to the security situation in south Persia, 1909-1911.
The discussion in the volume relates to the deteriorating security situation for travellers and trade in south Persia (which was held to be a British sphere of influence) caused by fighting among the Kashgai, Lur and Arab tribes who had rejected the authority of the Governor-General of Fars. A further cause of insecurity relating to this is referred to in a note (ff 335-336) by the 2nd Assistant Resident, Bushire, J S Crosthwaite, who describes how tribesmen had invested their money in rifles and could only earn their living by robbing the caravans of commercial travellers.
Correspondence discusses how this culminated in an attack upon J H Bill, Acting British Consul, Shiraz, in which two horsemen or ' sowars ' were killed, as he travelled along a caravan route. Correspondence discusses measures to be taken as a result of this attack, including a claim for compensation from the Persian Government, a punitive expedition against the Kashgais tribe and the role of Soulet et-Dowle, Governor General, Fars. Measures discussed include using the guards ( gholam ) of the Indo-European Telegraph Department paid for by a surcharge on customs duty levied by the British at Bushire; implications for relations with the Persian Government and the Russian Government are also discussed.
Included in the volume is a 'Memorandum respecting the Disorders on the Trade Routes of Southern Persia' by H G Trick, Vice-Consul for Fars.
The principal correspondents in the volume include Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Viscount Morley of Blackburn, Secretary of State for India; Percy Zachariah Cox, the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and Sir George Head Barclay, Minister at Tehran.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (370 folios)
- Arrangement
The subject 948 (Persia: situation in the south) consists of 1 volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 366; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the two leading and ending flyleaves
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 948/1909 'Persia: Situation in the South; Condition of the Roads. Attack on Mr Bill. Road Guard Scheme.' [358r] (720/744), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/163, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030540736.0x000079> [accessed 24 January 2025]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/163
- Title
- File 948/1909 'Persia: Situation in the South; Condition of the Roads. Attack on Mr Bill. Road Guard Scheme.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:146v, 147v:224v, 226r:369v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence