'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎25v] (55/310)

[ 4 1
goods in person before the verification by the
Customs Department, and clear them after
paying duty, &c. He has also fixed a fine
in case of there proving to be any difference
between the weights and value shown in tlie
declaration and those found on verification.
The Persian merchants have in consequence
refused to clear their goods, but have been
informed in reply to their protests that, as the
Poreign Legations had agreed to the new rules,
their objections could not be entertained ; they
were, however, to be given a week’s grace.
The merchants have consequently telegraphed
to the Shah and the Prime Minister, appealing
for modification of the new rules. r lhey have
practically suspended business and the clear
ance of their goods, and have telegraphed to
the merchants of Shiraz, Ispahan, and Yezd
for their support.
Similar tactics have been adopted more
than once since the inauguration of the
Customs under Belgian officials in 1900, but
have hitherto failed in their object.
The merchants have since received a tele
gram from Tehran, promising the modification
of the Articles of the Customs Eegl^ment of
which they had complained. The merchants
thereupon sent another telegram, soliciting
despatch of instructions to the Director-General
of Customs to pass goods as before, pending
settlement of the question.
15. (Vide paragraph 43 of Memoran
dum for February 1905.) The advance party
of the Commercial Mission, consisting of
Mr. Luff man and Mr. Byan, arrived from
Shiraz on 30th April. Two 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. sowars
proceeded half-way to meet them, and Captain
Trevor, First Assistant Resident, went out to
Shief to receive them on behalf of the Resident.
Mr. A. Gleadowe Newcomen, President
of the Mission, arrived on the 12th May.
The Resident and a representative from the
Local Government received him at the land
ing stage. The Resident had sent Lieutenant
Gabriel and two sowars of his escort to meet
him half-way, and a Mamur, with some Persian
sowars, were sent by the local authorities to
meet them at Borasjoon.
The whole Mission party left Bushire
for India on the 19th May, calling at Bunder
Abbas en route.
16. Jlenjam.—On the 13th May, Sir
A. Hardinge telegraphed that an agree
ment, regarding the Henjam-Bunder Abbas
telegraph extension, has been signed. The
terms of the agreement are identical with those
detailed in the Memorandum for April, para
graph 24, with the additional stipulations that
(a) the Henjam end of the line shall terminate
in, and be worked by, the British Telegraph