File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎266r] (536/1044)

Captain de Mare returned to Kerman about the middle of the month, but
nothing further transpired as to the objects or results of his trip.
331. Early in the month Major Glimstedt received telegraphic notice that
it was proposed to send a Swedish doctor and a Swedish nurse to Kerman. It
was believed that the nurse was a spinster. His Majesty’s Consul pointed out the
grave inconvenience which the presence of a solitary unmarried lady would cause,
and the problems of housing and propriety which would arise. Major Glimstedt,
while agreeing, was, however, afraid to incur the resentment of the authorities
and of his junior officers by opposing the scheme, even when he was subsequently
asked from Tehran, whether he approved of it.
332. The doctor and nurse were expected to arrive at Bandar Abbas in the
end of February. The doctor was studying tropical medicine at Paris.
It was subsequently stated that they were to come via Shiraz and Sirj an. It
appears (according to Mr. Lecoffre) that the gendarmerie authorities are anxious
to take steps to open the Shiraz-Kerman direct route. But why send the nurse
as a pioneer ? Until the Kerman gendarmerie is something more than a name,
and has taken over and rendered secure the Kerman-Bandar Abbas route, it is
perfectly silly to talk of opening up inland transverse routes. It is not at the
present stage the business of the gendarmerie.
333. Reference paragraphs 117-118 On January 25th His Majesty’s Consul
questioned Mr. Lecoffre closely on the subject of the control by the Swedish officers
of the City Police, but he could extract no very clear statement of the position.
Mr. Lecoffre began, however, by saying that the Swedes were already exercising
control over the police and in a measure over the ordinary forces of the crown, but
the matter was still the subject of pourparlers in Tehran. He then proceeded to
emphasize that the control that was desired was merely “ nominal In the
case of the army the Swedes would have control over the arms and ammunition
in order to prevent waste, and they would merely see that garrisons were in exis
tence and in position. The Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Nusrat would continue to supervise the
recruiting. To call any control by Europeans “ merely nominal ” is of course
pure humbug.
334. His Majesty’s Consul had enquired some time before from Major Glim
stedt about the question of the police, but he failed to obtain any clear intelli
gible answer. Near the end of the month Major Glimstedt also reviewed the
local troops, but with exactly what object is not known. The Swedes are pro
posing to draw on these forces for recruits for the gendarmerie. They recently
took a lot of town weavers, but had to surrender them again as they were bound
by contracts. They are also sending to Bam for recruits. Neither from Khabis,
Bam, nor Kerman city is a good type of recruit likely to be forthcoming. They
should send out to the upland villages and try and get into touch with the nomad
tribes.
335. Major Glimstedt having at last got his own house in order, left His Ma
jesty’s Consulate on January 23rd, after having spent exactly three months in |
it. Captain Oertingren remained on till the 31st of the month. The Swedes are f
extremely boring and fatiguing guests, and the gendarmes, whom they employ as
servants, are mostly thieves.
336. A report emanating from Shahr-i-Babak was received by telegraph from Condition
Anar, stating that a body of 300 Ears sowars was on the move and had designs on Country.
Rafsinjan and Anar. A small force with one gun was at once sent out from Kerman.
Later reports stated that the raiding party had pillaged in the neighbourhood of
Shahr-i-Babak, itself a nest of robbers, and passed across the district in the direc
tion of Meshed.
337. Reference paragraph 1219 of 1913. ^ It is stated by the Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Nusrat
that Hussain Khan, Buchaqchi, has been trying to stir up mischief in Sir j an and
has been responsible for a robbery in that district.
338. Letters received from the Agent of the Eastern Rug and Trading Company,
who had accompanied the Kawam-ul-Mulk to Darab, give a very uncomplimentary
picture of the state of the Kawams force. Supplies were very scarce and the
troops were chiefly engaged in robbing each other.