File 1749/1921 ‘Persian Gulf:- Residency news summaries 1921-25’ [‎207r] (428/494)

t//v
V /
CONHOENTIAL.
□
4
Summary of news received by His Majesty’s Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in the Persian
Gulf for the month of July 1921.
PERSIA.
»
Mohammeeah.
The Indo-European Telegraph Department handed over the Arabistan branch
to the Persian authorities on the 27th July.
On the 3rd July the Persian coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. at Abadan, about 1,400 in number, downed
tools and assaulted their Labour Officer, Mr. Turpin, for not having been paid their
full wages. Sheikh Moosa, Deputy Governor of Abadan, wdio proceeded to the
rescue of the officer, was himself stoned and injured. His Majesty’s Consul
accompanied by Sheikh Chassib, proceeded to Abadan to enquire into the matter,
md it transpired that the whole affair was premeditated and directed against the
^abour Officer, who is unpopular with the men, as he is in the habit of imprisoning
Chem without any reference to the local authorities. His Majesty’s Consul
warned him against such high-handedness and pointed out that he should refer
such matters to the Consulate. Sheikh Chassib arrested 5 or 6 of the ringleaders
and brought them to Mohammerah, where they are at present imprisoned pending
full investigation.
His Majesty’s Consul proceeded to Aba\dan on the 18th instant with the
Joint General Manager of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, to settle another dispute
amongst the Indians who threatened to go on strike. The two main grievances
w r ere the question of pensions and an 8-hour day. After interviewing the Heads
of Che different sections it was decided that question No. 1 was at present under
consideration by the Directors in London, whose decision was aw r aited, and that
as regards question 2, a 9-hour day would be sanctioned from August 1st to April
1st, 1922 owing to the Company’s heavy extension work on hand, and an 8-hour day
from that date.
Abadan taxation has been farmed out to Sheikh Moosa for Krans 400,000
against Krans 240,000 last year. The Anglo-Persian Oil Company have addressed
this Consulate protesting against this as detrimental to the interests of the Com
pany.
(Note .—The matter was represented to the Resident by His Majesty’s Consul
and the former has addressed the Sheikh on the subject.)
I ; V Ahwaz.
The Sheikh of Mohammerah and his following returned to Ahwaz from Moham
merah on the 1st instant, his guest the Heir-Apparent having sailed for Euiope
on the 29th June from Basra.
The Karguzar of Ahw^az, Ikram-il-Mulk, who has consented to act as Governor
General, left for Shushtar on the 13th instant.
Nizam-us-Sultaneh is very anxious to return to Tehran, but the Prime Minister
strongly disapproves of this idea and has asked the Sheikh of Mohammerah to use
his influence to prevent him doing so without the previous permission of the Persian
Government. The Sheikh has replied through the Consulate that he is unable t,o
prevent or persuade Nizam-us-Sultaneh from leaving for Tehran and requests tne
Prime Minister to telegraph direct to the Nizam not to proceed but to return to
Europe until some more suitable time for his return.
The Sheikh of Mohammerah was approached recently regarding the purchase
of 60 Jareebs of ground on the left bank of the Karim, north of the Anglo-1 eisian
Oil Company Ahw r az Workshops, by the Company. The ground was to be used
as the site for new quarters for the Company s European employees w ho aie at
present housed under somewhat scattered and crowded conditions in the town.
C341FD