"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [ظ‎‎٧‎٢] (٦١٦/١٤٩)

34
ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF
Should the Russians establish a strong influence in Luristan it would to a large
extent render nugatory, for purposes of mutual defence, our gms&-alliance with
the Bakhtiari Khans, as it would at once place at the disposal of the invaders a
route for moving their troops southwards—a route which would be infinitely easier
than any that could be found through the Bakhtiari country.
PUSHT-I-KUK.
51. Internal. —The Wali Ghulam Riza Khan continues in undisputed pos
session of his ancestral lands. The disputes with his sons, which during the past
two or three years had on more than one occasion culminated in active hostilities
were composed in the spring of 1906, and to judge by the negative evidence afford
ed by the absence of reports it may be assumed that no serious misunderstand
ings have since arisen.
The excursions of the Wali into Luristan and its affairs at the request of his
son-in-law, the Salar ud Daulah, have been mentioned above under the heading of
Luristan. They can have added nothing to his prestige and appear to justify
Khanjan's prophetic assertions that the Wali could not successfully tackle the
problems of that province.
52. Occasional correspondence have taken place between the Vice-Consul
and the Wali. Kaid Khani, the Wali's Agent, was despatched in April to visit
the Vice-Consul at Nasiri but was recalled while on the way.
Later in April, at Dizful the Vice-Consul met the Kaid Khani who conveyed
very friendly messages from his master. Some conversation took place with re
gard to the Saimara route and every hope was held out of the readiness of the Wali
to accommodate himself to our wishes.
As explained above however this question is now in abeyance. A present
was sent to the Wali for his son (the choice of which son being left to the Wali who
ha^ strong predilections for his third son). It was warmly acknowledged. It was
proposed to visit the Wali in the cold weather and correspondence took place, but
his absence in Luristan prevented the accomplishment of this project.
The Kaid Khani, by request, arranged for the passage through Pusht i Kuh
to Kermanshah of Major Baird travelling for the Intelligence Branch of the Indian
Army. The journey was made in December and January, and Kaid Khani accom
panied Major Baird in person from Deh Luran to Kermanshah and gave every
satisfaction by his attentiveness and obligingness. The first part of the journey
was made under the auspices of Khanjan Khan, Sagwand, and Shaikh Mushattat
of the Surkha, with both of whom excellent relations exist.
In March Kaid Khani came down to Nasiri with letters from the Wali, but
unfortunately the Vice-Consul was absent at Ramuz at that time. •
53. In the absence of more serious business the mention of all these trifling
details is made to show the point which relations between this Vice-Consulate and
the Wali have reached. There would be no dfficulty in taking up business or nego
tiations at any time that occasion arose, and there is every reason to look for an
obliging attitude on the part of the Wali, A personal and cordial acquaintance
has been obtained with his principal Agents.
The Wali made somewhat serious demands on His Britannic Majesty 's Con
sul at Ktrmanshah, but there is little reason to believe that he would insist on the
acceptance of these as a preliminary to business relations, or that he would not
gladly receive as a substitute a less embarrassing form of friendship.
FOREIGN INTERESTS.
54. With the exception of Luristan already referred to above, this heading
has no application outside Arabistan.
The Russians. —There has been no evidence of activity on the part of the
Russians during the year in Arabistan. They continued to be represented by the
Dutchman ter Meulen till the end of October, when they dispensed with his ser
vices on the grounds that he had taken up the agency of the iiew German- Hamburg
America Line of Steamers. Mr. ter Meulen protested loudly and appealed
to Tehran. Having in the meantime been turned off by the German Company,