File 1749/1921 ‘Persian Gulf:- Residency news summaries 1921-25’ [‎219r] (452/494)

that the present Military Director would soon be replaced by one of the former
Prime Ministers and that the Majliss would be assembled with all possible speed.
On the whole His Excellency appeared to regard the present situation more with
feelings of relief than anything else.
—-s A deportee named Quli Khan has been permitted to return to Shushtar on
guarantees being given to the Governor-General for good behaviour by His Excel
lency the Shaikh of Mohammerah.
The condition of the town and district is good.
Isfahan.
(April 24th to May 22nd.)
A notice has been circulated by the Prime Minister informing the Heads of
Departments that opium-smoking is prohibited. No officials addicted to the habit
are to be employed and opium-smoking officials are to be dismissed. The Heads
of Departments are directed to carry out these instructions immediately.
The Financial Adviser arrived in Isfahan on 27th April and during his stay
addressed the principal notables, mullas and merchants on the subject of financial
and administrative reform. His remarks were much appreciated and approved of
by an audience of some forty persons, and His Majesty’s Consul-General subse
quently heard that his address produced an excellent impression and that opinions
were expressed to the effect that if Persian administration affairs were left to British
advisers to manage there would be some certainty of the much wished for reforms
being properly and speedily carried out.
Eadical changes have been made in the staff of the Financial Department at
Isfahan and many officials have been dismissed. The monthly wages bill is said
to have been reduced by 2,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. .
A meeting of the ulema, merchants and notables was held at the Governor
General’s office to consider the best means of giving effect to the new orders relating
to the increase of the octroi dues. No objection to the orders themselves seems to
have been raised though certain modifications were suggested and it was considered
imprudent to put them into operation during Ramzan. It was therefore decided
to telegraph representations in that sense to the Prime Minister, who has however
turned them down.
There appears to be no formidable opposition to the scheme at present and the
new taxes are being enforced by the police as from the 23rd May. Mullas are I
however putting their heads together and trying to organize some sort of resistance .|
It is reported from Kum that though considerable excitement was aroused in
the town by the increase of octroi dues the collection of the new taxes is proceeding
without opposition.
Kr.shan reports that great excitement prevails on account of the collection of
the new taxes. The bazaars were closed and a large crowd attacked the gendarmes
charged with the collection. The latter fired in the air to frighten the demon
strators and eventually the mob decided to withdraw and refer their complaints to
Tehran through the telegraph office. A political prisoner who tried to escape was
recaptured.
News has reached the Governor-General that 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. Zafar whose appointment
as Governor-General, Isfahan was reported by his sons has now declined the appoint
ment.
)
Definite orders have been received from Tehran to cease policing the roads with
Bakhtiari guards. The Governor-General’s road guards have accordingly been
withdrawn and the roads placed in the hands of the gendarmerie.
Farman Farma’s property recently seized here by the gendarmerie under orders
from Tehran is to be sold by public auction on May 27th.
The ulema have signified their disapproval of the education of women bv
forcibly closing down the Primary School for girls recently opened by the Repre
sentative of the Ministry of Public Instruction. The m illas have notified the public ft
that the teaching of women to read and write is highly prejudicial;