'General information on Persia for any future edition, 1895' [‎33r] (58/211)

OUR TRADE WITH THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
some mysterious process find in their bags, a due proportion of
bad coin This ultimately finds its way to the table of the
Manager where it may be seen lying in heaps. The Shah can
here really move to some effect, as the matter is entirely
in his own hands. It is possible that—according to his usual
niactice—he is waiting for some European to come forward
and nay him for a “ concession ” to renew the silver coinage.
We do not know whether it would pay any one to take up
the “ concession but there is one fatal objection to its success
in English or other European, hands. The native national
cry would at once be raised that foreigners were going to
destroy the currency of the country—to substitute bad for
good short weight for full—and so on—and the outcry would
be so great that, like the Tobacco “ Concession,” it would have
to be recalled by the Shah with an accession to his unpopu
larity and to the loss of the unfortunate, “enterprising”
foreigner. But, as we have said, it is the Shah’s own business.
With the present low price of silver, he might even make
a large profit on the operation—more, probably, than he would
if he gave the contract to the “ foreigner.” Beautified and
improved in appearance, its ratio to the rupee—w\\\c\\ has
been fluctuating greatly of late —should also be determined,
The fluctuation going on at present, especially in the wrong
direction for the kran y is unfavourable to trade, and the Persians
are simply confounded at it. The new kran might be made
thinner than it is at present, more extended in surface (to
about the size of a shilling), and so far alloyed with bronze
as to give it a degree of hardness for resisting easy clipping, and
to make three the equivalent of a rupee. This would also
have the advantage to the Shah, of giving him a good deal
of profit.
We have referred above to the Banks suffering from the bad
coin (really through the dishonesty of their own native ser
vants—so, at least, we have been informed);—and we may
add here, that the establishment of the Imperial Bank of
Persia, with agencies at all the principal towns and cities of
Persia, has given advantages to trade which it did not possess
before.
The Persians have fairly taken to the Bank ; and the
profits have been very large. Another Bank—the Otto
man—has also started operations, and so far has been fairly
successful. With a stable government, supported on one side
by the British, and on the other by Russia, in the work of cen
tralising authority, and establishing real departments of State,
and the proper machinery of civilised Government ; with
railways and roads running through the length and breadth
of the land ; with an improved and stable currency ; with
OUR TRADE WITH THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . 21
strong banks at all the centres of trade ; with the impetus to
increased production given by good government; with millions
of railway expenditure thrown into the country, Persia would
take a great leap in prosperity ; and both Russia and England
would participate in its advantages. Surely Russia herself
must see the advantages of such a policy. Let us trust that,
the “ lust of dominion ” has had its day even in Russia, and*
that a newer, truer, and more enlightened policy—that of trade
of friendliness, of supporting the s/a/us quo of other Powers—
the same policy which has so marvellously advanced Great
Britain among the nations of the earth—will dawn on her with
the accession of her present peaceful Emperor. To filch small
bits of territory by surprises ; to keep her weaker neighbours
always in apprehension, and her powerful neighbours in a state
of tension and wasteful war expenditure ; to place obstacles in
the way of the advance in wealth and prosperity of States like
Persia, which by such advance would largely benefit her • to
maintain a foreign policy of continual aggression ; and to per
mit small colonels and border generals to affect her cordial
relations with such Powers as Great Britain and China : all
these propensities, which have unfortunately characterised her
hitherto, can only retard the development, wealth, and strength
of her power. It is her truest and best policy to consolidate
herself, and maintain the most friendly relations with all her
neighbours ; to really be in “ peace,” replacing her distant
military governors by civilians, of a stamp different from those
fire-eating and blustering personages we have been accustomed
to during the last half a century.
To return to Persia, there are some other things besides
those already glanced at, which have to be attended to in the
interests of trade. One of these, is the matter of Customs
which require to be made definite and regulated. Owing to
the practical decentralisation of the provinces, the 5 °/ duty
at the ports of entry sometimes swells up, as goods pass
further inland, to even 10 % ! This was shown by Mr. Curzon
as being the case in his day. That it is still the case,
may be proved from some remarks in the returns from
which we quote, to the effect that an illegal exaction of
Customs duty, after passing the port of entry, has been
brought to notice, and that the Shah has promised to attend to
it. But will it be attended to?—or rather, under the present lax
state of affairs, can it be effectually attended to ? This matter
of Customs is an Imperial matter, like the Army, the Currency
and others. At present, instead of the administration of the
Department being centralised, and reserved for the Shah’s own
direct officers, the duties are farmed out, at rates far below their
value, to the highest bidder. In the returns are all the amounts
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