Page 73 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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In these circumstances, it is peculiarly hard to
write upon the situation as it is affected on the
Persian littoral of the Gulf; existing information
is largely beside tho point; the future trend of
events is remarkably obscured.
It has accordingly seemed advisable, in consider­
ing hero tho Persian question in relation to the
Gulf, to avoid laigor and indefinite issues, and to
direct attention exclusively, and that only on
general lines, to (a) a description of the coast-line,
and (b) tho development of trade routes and rail­
way communication.
Tho first subject could obviously not be
omitted in a Memorandum of this character;
the second is suggested by tho declaration of the
German Government, that their interest in Persia
is purely commercial. Without seeking to
impugn the sincerity of this limitation, it may be
doubted whether, at the preseut day, a distinct
line can be drawn between political and com­
mercial relations, the more so since in other
quarters German policy has shown such con­
spicuous success in using the lcvorage of com­
mercial enterprise for tho promotion of political
ascendency.
It has been justly said that Persia governs her
coast on sufferance. Proverbially timorous of
the sea, and possessed of a single vessel of war
—the “ Persepolis ”—under foreign command
and at present unseaworthy, the Persians
owe their authority, such as it is, to the past
exertions and actual presence of British naval
officers, who have rendered navigation secure,
and thus contributed in no small degree to
the revenue ol tho Persian exchequer. To
show that this statement is not overdrawn, it
may be recalled that there is not a single really
Persian village or town from Mohammcrah, on
tho Shat-el-Arab, to Gwadur, on tho Baluchistan
border. Excepting Bush ire, every town, village,
and island is inhabited by Arabs, with a very small
sprinkling of Persian blood among them, over
whom tho Persian Government would be incapable
of asserting authority should any concerted rising
take place. Only a few years ago there was
a temporary overthrow of Persian authority
at Lingah; the Sheikh of Kishm would like to
declare his independence; and for some time it
was an open question whether tho Arabs of
Mohammcrah would submit to the extension of
the new customs regime to that port. Within
the past six months there have been serious
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