Page 624 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

80 ADMINISTRATION REPOET OP THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

Amongst the suggestions then being considered were: The opening of
the Karun River Route; establishment of & British Agency at Yezd; revised
commercial treaty; administrative reform, in view to facilitate recovery of just
claims from Persian debtors. The two first of these proposals are in fair way
of realization, and other measures not thought of in those days are now fails
accomplis. With the advance of trade, however, the need for administrative
reform is becoming still more strongly felt, and in this respect no progress
has been made, and the terms used to describe this want more than fifteen years
ago are still applicable. The evil threatens to assume dangerous proportions,
from the increased tendency to fraudulent declarations of bankruptcy, under
the facilities afforded by the venality of officials. These, as often as not, are
selected for their absorbtive qualities rather than for administrative qualifica­
tions or high character, and when a dishonest Persian debtor decides to free
himself from his liabilities to foreign traders on easy terms, he finds bis own
officials ready with sympathising though not disinterested assistance. In such
cases, and unfortunately they are common, all efforts to obtain full justice must
fail, for you find the Judge leagued with the accused and cuslodiam quis
custodiet ?
If any method can be devised to provide for the just hearing and speedy
settlement of claims of foreigners against Persian subjects, it will greatly
benefit trade generally.
Increase of Trade.
Notwithstanding all difficulties, during the last twenty years (a compara­
tively dark period before the light of European enterprise so suddenly and
recently sbed on Persia), the trade of the south of Persia has steadily increased.
Judging from our returns, the value of imports and exports of Bushire in­
creased in fifteen years (from 1873 to 3888) by about five millions of rupees.
In a period of 10 years (from 1878 to 1888) the trade of Bunder Abbas in­
creased to a similar extent. Prom the present time a fresh departure may be
reckoned, the old order changes, and more rapid progress may be anticipated.
E. C. ROSS,
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf
and K. M's Consul-General for Pars.
Bushire,
The 20th May 1890.