"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٢‎٨‎٩] (١٧٨٢/٤٣٢)

MMftMKUdiBuaimBams
/2'2;
lillif
dtf
fitf'
289
seemingly ill-considered British seheme for a railway from Ahwaz to Tehran
w 1C « as put forward m 1887, was the extortion by Russia from the Shah
m the same year of a promise that he would eonsult the Tsar before permit-
111 t COmpany 40 constract a railway or water-way in Persia,
In 1888 British diplomacy at last triumphed ovei fiussianlopposition and
o er obstacles to the extent of obtaining, after many years of patient effort,
e opening of the lower Karun River to general navigation. Prospects
were at the same time held out by the Persian Government of an arrange
ment for tie construction of a road for wheeled traffic being made without
delay to connect the head of navigation on the Karun with the Persian
capital.
Certain measures of administrative reorganisation taken by the Shah's
Governmentin Southern Persia about this time were not devoid of practical
significance. So early as 1882 a transference had begun to take place of
ports and districts on the Persian coast from the jurisdiction of the Gover
nor-General of Pars to the personal control of the Amin-us-Sultan, a Court
favourite, m 1887 the remainder of Ears was conferred upon the same
official; but simultaneously the most important towns of the littoral were
removed froaa his charge, together with the districts and islands depending
on them, and formed into a new administrative division styled " the Gulf
Ports, ' which was placed under a Governor of its own, in the first instance
a member of the Persian royal family. Probably in the next year, Jashk
and its districts were detached from the Governor-Generalship of Kirman
and included in the Gulf Ports division.
These changes, probably inspired by the Amin-us-Sultan, were accom
panied by an outburst of Persian political activity in the Persian Gulf such
as had never been witnessed there before. In 1887 the Arab port of Lingeh,
hitherto under tribal government, was made subject to direct Persian
administration, and the Persian flag was at the same time hoisted on the
island of Sirri, which had close relations with Lingeh. Persian encroach
ments and intrigues in various directions followed. The withdrawal of the
British military detachment at the Jashk telegraph station was requested
and obtained, but not until the immunities of the station and staff had been
recorded in a formal Agreement between the British and Persian Govern
ments. Official support of false allegations against the British political
representatives at Bushehr and Lingeh and vexatious and insulting proceed
ings in the Bushehr custom house seemed to form part of a set policy for
the reduction of British prestige, but were checked by ..sharp diplomatic
remonstrances at Tehran. In 1887-88 efforts were made to induce the
Shaikhs of Trucial 'Oman to place themselves under the suzerainty of Persia,
28
Opening of
the lower
Karun River
to navigation,
1888.
Formation of
the Persian
Governorship
of the Gulf
Ports, 1887,
Activity and
intrigues of
Persia in the
Persian Gulf,
1887-88.