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mentioned in a report, dated the 4th April, that a letter had been received at
Maskat addressed to the ' Russian Vice-Consul at Maskat’.
On the 15th June 1901, the Political Agent, Maskat, reported that repeated
mention was made in French and Arabic newspapers of the intention of the
Russian Government to appoint a Consular ofiicial to Maskat [see para. 45
below.]
32. Prince Dabija, the Russian Consul-General, visited Busliire on the 4th
Vl»i,/a,Coniut'Ginnal„(/*.«.. » March .90.1. He told Colonel Kemball
Buihire. that his visit was in connection with the
Secret’E., May igoi, Nos. 51-65. arrival, which was shortly expected, of the
Russian merchant steamer. The Acting French Vice-Consul has, it has been
said, been approached by Prince Dabija, with reference to the purchase of his
house for the use of the Russian Consulate which was to be established at
Busliire.
33. The Russian merchant steamer Korniloff> the first of the new
Fusiian Commercial enterprise in the Persian Gulf. Russian line of steamers to the Persian
Secret E., May 1901, Nos. 51-65. Gulf, arrived in Bushire on the 21st March
1901 from Odessa, having called at Maskat, Jask, Bandar Abbas and Lingah.
At Maskat the Commander, accompanied by the French Consul, called on the
Sultan. She appears to have been heavily laden with cargo, as on first arrival
at Bushire she was unable to enter the inner harbour until she had discharged
12,500 packages. This cargo, which was landed in Bushire, consisted of 7,500
cases of kerosene oil, and the remainder of sugar, cotton and silk piece-goods,
crockery and other commodities. At Bandar Abbas she landed 600 bags of
sugar. The cargo for Bushire did not appear to have been consigned to any
particular merchants, but two Russians who came by the ship, and who were,
it is understood, representatives of a Moscow firm, landed in Bushire and did their
best to dispose of the goods.
34. There were about ten passengers in the Kornilofft consisting of Russians
and Frenchmen and including Mr. Moesman, the Bushire representative of the
firm of Messrs. Hotz and Son, a Dutch firm enjoying British protection which
recently declared their intention of placing themselves under Russian protection.
The latter came in the ship from Odessa and acted as agent for her in Bushire.
The Captain of the Korniloff is, it is believed, a Russian Naval Officer, and
the ship carries two small guns, from which a salute was fired when Prince
Daibija paid a visit to the ship. She returned to Bushire on the 22nd April and
left on the 22nd for Odessa vid Lingah. She was said to have taken 250 tons
of cargo from Basrah and 200 bales of cotton purchased by the Russian mer­
chants in Bushire, also 140 bags of tobacco belonging to Messrs. J. C. P. Hotz
and Son.
35. Mr. Werner, the Russian Doctor, and two of the Russian merchants,
Extract from the Persian Gulf Residency Diary who Came tO Bushire by the I\.0tIlllofJ, left
for the week ending 10th June 1901. 0n the 3rd June for Shiraz.
36. The Odessa correspondent of the Standard wrote on the4th June:—
" Commander Klassing of the Korniloff * • • has been summoned hence
to St. Petersburgh to render a personal report to the Minister of Finance of
Secret E, Aueu« .90., Nos.,his experimental journey. The Govern-
ment, I have reason for stating, is not at
all satisfied with the results of the preliminary trip * * • , and it now
depends very much upon the nature of Commander Klassing’s personal explana­
tions whether the venture will be preserved with or abandoned.'’
37. Mr. Syromiatnikoff wrote in the Novoe Vertnya of the 8th June—“As
to the unsuitability of the goods sent out in the Korniloff it will be time
enough to consider that question when the accredited commercial agents return.
Meanwhile, according to report, the Russian Steam Navigation and Trade Com­
pany reckon the trip a successful one, and have determined on a second voyage
in August, in which, it is hoped, Russian merchants may be induced to take an
interest.”