ملف ٢٢٩٧/ ١٩١٩ "تقارير شهرية للمقيمية البريطانية في الخليج الفارسي. ١٩١٢-١٩٢٠." [ظ‎‎١‎٧] (١٠٤٤/٣٩)

It would be disastrous for the Kerman revenues if otbef holders of lease#
of CroWn lands in the province Will, as is probable, succeed ill making similar
arrangements by influence or bribery.
The finances of the province are, thanks to the corruption and weakness
of the Central Governmentj approaching a crisis. The revenue of this current
year was anticipated to the extent ox some Tomans 40,000 to make for the
deficit in last year’s budget. Revenue in kind is being commuted for cash at
absurd rates, as in the instance reported above. The Central Government
is making no attempt to reduce the provincial expenditure, even in sucli
glaring instances as the Qarasuran, Governor-General’s sowars and the
Army Department. It is anticipated by the Financial Agent that there will
be no funds in the Treasury to meet the expenditure of the last three months
of the current financial year.
The Financial Agent received a circular telegram from Tehran instruct
ing him to submit proposals for reducing the expenditure of the various
Persian Departments in Kerman. He is pointing out, after consultation with
His Majesty’s Consul, that the Qarasuran, Governor-General’s sowars and the
Army Department offer the first field for sweeping reductions. The recover
able revenue of the province amounts to Tomans 300,000 annually, provided
the revenue grain is sold at market prices, and the yearly expenditure to about
Tomans 350,000, some two-thirds of which is expended on the above three
departments. As the Financial Agent is now experiencing some difficulty in
regularly meeting the charges for salaries of the various departments, he has
asked permission to sell the remainder of the grain in the districts for which
tenders were recently invited, at the current rates.
Under instructions from His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, His Majesty’s
Consul is pressing for the early departure of the two remaining deputies to
Tehran. The Deputy Governor, acting during the temporary absence of the
Governor-General, has promised to hurry them up.
A telegram from the British Yice-Consul, Yezd, dated October 8th, states
that the Governor of Yezd has given the Shadr Babak Khawanis permission
to return to their homes and that they have been appointed joint Deputy
Governor of the Shahr Babak district.
Mekran .—On October 3rd a sepoy water party at Charbar was fired upon
by about four Baluchis at about 5-30 a.m. Two sepoys were wounded and
one of the attacking party was killed. The corpse after a thorough examina
tion was handed over to the Baluchis for burial. Efforts are being made to
discover who was responsible for this attack.
Din Mahomed writes that Bahram Rind has visited him with eight men
and begged him not to try and kill Azim Khan. Din Mahomed has not
acceded to this request, and on asking for advice as to the best way to act he
was told that the Government want Bahram Rind and his brother captive, and
that a reward will be given to whoever effects this.
It was reported from Jask that a party or five Afghans were in Bint buy
ing large quantities of empty cartridges. A consignment of rifles and ammuni
tion was landed at Gatary near Bunjo, and thirty rifles and some ammunition
were landed at Kuhistak by dhow during the month.
On October 23rd an Arab, declaring himself to be an eye specialist*
arrived in Jask. He came from Jeddah and is staying in Luran. He is
suspected of being a Fakhir and is being watched.
Arabia.
Maskat .—Under instructions of the Sultan of Maskat, now in India, a
Council of Ministers to carry on the Administrative work was instituted on
October 7th. Saiyid Nadir, the Sultan’s brother, has been appointed President
of the Council which consists of Saiyid Muhammad bin Ahmed, Minister
of Revenues, Zuber bin Ali, Minister of Justice, Shaikh Rashid bin Uzaiz,
Minister of Religious affairs. At the invitation of the Ministers the Political