File 1749/1921 ‘Persian Gulf:- Residency news summaries 1921-25’ [‎142v] (299/494)

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Soulet en route. They left again for Dehbid with Amir Lashkar with the object
of establishing contact between Soulet and the Qawam,
Qawam-ul-Mulk left Shiraz for Dehbid, with about 300 riflemen escort on the
25th July to spend a month with his Khamseh tribesmen in that neighbourhood.
The proposal of the Governor-General to appoint a committee to arrange a
division of the Zira district had to be dropped owing to the enormous number of
candidates that came forward claiming that their qualifications to be one of the
members were superior to the others. Evidently good money was scented from
the opposing Khans. Meanwhile the Governor has been rather taken aback by
a telegram from Tehran instructing him not to allow Agha Khan of Shabankareh
whom he favours, to return to Dashtistan.
At 5 p. m. on the 16th July the flag of the Soviet Consulate was hoisted.
None of the British colony attended. The Governor-General, his staff and the
staffs of the Government departments were present, but no merchants, mullas
or prominent shopkeepers, and none of the Qawami nobles attended. Several
speeches were made, and the notorious democrat Amin-ul-Waizin in rather
menacing tone said that they would judge by results and not words.
The Russians are getting the reputation of being parsimonious: at anv rate
townspeople, who were on the look-out for a new source of profit, now say “ there
is no money to be had ’ ’.
Several robberies are reported on the Isfahan road especially in the Sivand
district.
Bebehan.
His Excellency the Shaikh of Mohainmerah has dismissed Abdul Hasan Khan
from the Governorship of Zaidun and appointed Agha Abdi to succeed him.
The Hendian and Ramhormuz-Mashur roads are saf£, but the condition of
the Dilum road is bad.
Trade is very slack and the merchants are very hard hit.
Bushire.
The smuggling of krans out of Persia is believed to be still taking place on an
extensive scale. The Customs authorities at Bushire have been instructed by
Tehran to utilize the ‘ ‘ Persepolis ’ ’ to prevent this traffic, but she is not at present
available as the Karguzar is making a prolonged tour of the Gulf in her and is busy
squeezing money out of the various officials.
Abdul Reza Khan has written to the Russian Consul at Shiraz offering his
services^as Consular Agent or Reporter if it is not desirable to appoint an official
representative at the present moment. He is a dangerous rascal, who loses no
opportunity of intriguing against the Governor, and he is also endeavouring to get
Shaikh Muhammad Chahkutahi, son of the late Shaikh Hussain, Zair Khidhar
and other Khans who were anti-British in the war to declare themselves pro-
Russian. His Excellency the Governor has recommended to Tehran that Abdul
Reza should be deported and His Majesty’s Consul-General has telegraphed to
the Legation asking if they can assist in getting this done.
His Majesty’s Consul, Shiraz, reports that the Soviet Consul has published
a notice regarding the future operations of the Russian Steam Navigation Com
pany. It is rumoured that a vessel is shortly to visit the Gulf.
There has been some agitation lately against the new Customs, which has
manifested itself in a number of telegrams and petitions to Tehran demanding
that the Customs should be re-transferred to its old premises. The opposition is
inspired by Moin-ut-Tujjar who owns the old premises, and forced the Customs
to move oy frequent increases in the rent which eventually was exorbitant.
The new buildings are as a matter of fact very good and arranged on proper up
to-date lines for the expeditious transaction of business.
It is reported from Shiraz that the nucleus of the force for Bushire and the Gulf
Ports is now 180 strong, of whom 50 will be left at Borazjun. It is equipped and