"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [و‎‎١‎١‎٧] (٦١٦/٢٣٨)

AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1907-1908.
43
67. Miscellaneous Affairs discussed with Bis Britannic Majesty s Vice-
Consul. —When met at Maidan MuDaftun in January, the Sahab and Salar
propounded a very startling proposal. This was that hnving lost faith in and
respect for, the Persian Government they were anxious to cut themselves a drift
from it and place themselves under British protection. They cited the cases
of Koweit and Maskat as representing what they were aiming at. We had
previously made proposals to raise levies of their subjects and drill them hnt
they had not felt ready for such a step; they were now prepared to welcome it.
also proposed to form an alliance with the same general object with
Sheikh Khaza'l with whom they implied that they had opened negotiations.
The British Government would be asked to ratify the alliance and make
itself responsible for the observance of its terms by both parties, an artless and
characteristic revelation of the state of mind of the Khans who durin^ the
last two years have been chiefly occupied in doing all in their power to remove
every trace of justification for putting reliance- on their good faith and
integrity.
In reality the subject was only broached to the Sheikh in February or
March ^hen his representative Haji Rais-ut-Tujjar visited the Khans at
Ab Bid.
The Sheikh laughs at the crudem ss of the Khnns' ideas and is not likely
to be carried away by them.
58. Descending to more practical matters the Khans stated their desire
to build a bridge over the lower Karun in connection with which they would
construct a track leading to some of the summer pastures of the tribes.
They asked that they might be inforrred what would be the expense
involvedm obtaining an English Engineer to inspect and report on the
project. r
.. Iftfr however, in reply to enquiries, they wrote that they had no inten
tion of building the bridge, but only of undertaking the construction of the
track.
It is understood that the Government of India propose to direct the
Assistant Engineer in the Persian Gulf to visit the ground and report on
what may be required.
.n 0 ^' matter discussed by the Khans was the purchase of 3|}0
rifles, for the import of which they held a Customs permit. They determined
on trying to obtain a certain proportion of the short Lee-Enfield rifles and
the remainder Martini-Henrys. They have since had some dealings' with
Messrs. Lynch Brothers in the matter, and it is understood that the latter have
tentatively placed an order for 50 rifles with their London house. Import
or delivery would, however, only be made against payment.
The latest development, however, is that urgent telegraphic instructions
nave been received by the Director of Customs at Muhammerah from Tehran
cancelling the permit.
60 Ftscal. An embargo on the sale of grain in the Bamuz district was
imposed by the Khans in January. As Messrs. Lvnch Brothers were
affected reference was made by the Vice-Consulate to'the Khans, and the
restrictions disappeared.
About the same time a general sumptuary order was issued forbidding
the use of tea and sugar and certain other articles of luxury, such as limes,
by Bakhtian subjects. This order has been fairly rigorously enforced, at
any rate in the towns and villages, but clandestine trade in tea and sugar
goes on. European firms, which cannot do business in this manner, are,
however, affected, and in particular the Dutch firm of ter Meulen and
Gratama was said to have been inconvenienced.
British interests for the time being not being involved the matter has
not been taken up by the Vice-Consul, and it is hoped that the regulations
will eventually die a natural death.
Considering the difficulty which the Khans have in controlling the
reedom or their subjects in much less legitimate and reasonable directions
M