Coll 28/120 ‘Persia. Ahwaz – Consular diaries.’ [‎253r] (506/669)

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movement of gold was reversed during the month, v*h<?n the
Iraqi price fell below the Persian price and gold began to
return to this country.
(17), The instructions signed by Dr^lUllspaugh, the
Prime tfinister and the Minister of Finance, to the Director-
General of Finance to hand over the work of the various
economic sections to the officials at present in charge of
those departments, both in Ahwaz and in the 16 district centres,
was an act of sheer lunacy. In Ahwaz, before the law of
Ordibehesht (though not in other parts of Persia) the Director
of Finance wao also in charge of the Department of Kharbar,
and the work cf the two departments have always been geared
together. In many of the district centres, the reproaentatlva
of the Finance Department has also done all the work regard
ing, for instance, rationed commodities distribution, and the
only roan he can hand over the responsibility to is the store
keeper. In Ahwaz, Mr.solomon’s chiefs of departments wore
well chosen men, but not accustomed to exercising responaibilltjri
after ten days of it, at least one is begging to be allowed
tq resign. The Distribution Department has no sugar to dis
tribute (ur.oclomon had intended to borrow it from the Custom*);
and money (which is due to come from Tehran) to pay the
employees, Mr.bolomon was able to give brond interpretation*
to regulations which his unhappy successors cannot do, and on*
department could be co-ordinated to assist another# Ther* 1 *
a story that Brigadier Ifumayuni’s oomnent on hearing of Tehran 1 *
aecision was ^There go my tribes ! 11 and indeed it will be *
matter ef surprise to this office.if commodity good* r&*oh
the tribal areas at all in the future# A considerable in
crease in raiding will result#
(i«). The making of arrangements for convoying *0000
pilgrims te Kerbela appear to be quite beyond the p<r^«rs of
the Persians, The Allied military authorities ar* getting
them as far as Ahwaz, but thereafter is chaos, and although
Transport is no longer under Mr.iiolomon the authorities in
Tehran have been ©bilged to ask him to cone,
(19). A»Lo 0 • Hamndan reported a flourishing market
in Burujird, where there is a lively demand for gum tragaoautll#
(20.) In Ahwaz, the Municipality is rumoured to b«
making money both out ®f the butcher* who have a meat m 0 n*po 2 jr
(see para 11 of Diary 1) and out of the free bakeries who ar©
now under municipal control.
(21) Bazaar priceb at the end of the month st*od **
f0ll*V7»
w
Detail
Tea per kilo
400
3*0
bugar
Dice Dizful
74
a*
10
8
Beans
11
9
Lentil
9
7
Bggs (each)
2# 20
1,76
Potatoes
8
8*80
Qniono
9
7
Mutton
29
Beef
18
(22)* Ha in# 3 inches of rain fell during Jamitiry, bringing ihf
total rainfall of the season to 8 # 36 inch©*#