Page 104 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

88
CHAPTER X.

Attempted change in the system of collection of customs on the
Karun river, 1902-03.
290-A. Wo have seen above* that ns regards the customs on the Karun rivor,
the arrangement, under orders of the
Secret E., June 1003, Nos. 327-85G (328).
Shah’s Government, was that the taxes
Bhould he collected at Mohammcrah, Ahwaz and Shuster according to the place
of the destination of the goods. In 1902, the Belgian Customs authorities pro­
ceeded to put a stop to these arrangements and demanded the landing, examina­
tion, and payment of duty on upward and downward through cargo at Moham-
merah. Messrs. Lynch and Co. objected, appealing to tho agreement of the
Shah’s Government in regard to the conditions on which the gift of tho steamer
Shus/ian was accepted (see paragraphs 108—109 ante).
291. The arguments on which the alteration of the system was based and
the arguments contra are stated briefly in
Ibid (No. 245, cucloiuro 7).
tho following telegram of the Marquis of
Lansdowno to Mr. Erskine, dated November Sth, 1902 :—
" Two telegrams from tho Mushir-ed-Dowleh and the Grand Vizier havo been communi­
cated by the Fersiao Minister, stating that at Mohammerah, as at all other ports, a Customs'
register has benn instituted as a result of the new Customs arrangements while at Ahwaz,
Shustei, Dizful, and other inland stations, Custom Houses will be done away with. The
previous arrangement was that the tax on goods belonging to Persian subjects, imported or
exported by the Karun, was levied at the deslination. The same treatment as that of Persian
subjects was accorded to Messrs. Lynch, and at the request of Ilis Majesty’s Legation,
instructions were sent accordingly some years ago. But Messrs. Lynch have no longer any
right to Le excepted now that foreigners and Persians are taxed equally at Mohammerah,
where Customs' registers alone exist. For if such exception were made, othpr merchants
might be led to clarm the right of paying duty at Tehran on goods destined for that place.
It was therefore impossible to entertain Messrs. Lynch’s request, aud tho Persian Minister was
directed to discuss the question with me.
He has been informed in reply that I consider the position at Mohammerah to differ
from that of any other port, in that it is situated at the mouth of a river open to steam navi­
gation. It was only on the assurance that cargoes would not have to be unloaded at Moham­
merah, but thatduties might be paid at destination, that Messrs. Lynch had agreed to under­
take the navigation. Were this arrangement to be worked without notice or any compensatory
advantages, it would be unfair and inconsistent with good faith, and commerce, by which
Persian revenues are benefited, would be seriously affected. A provisional arrangement had,
I w.is glad to hear, been made, and I trusted that His Majesty’s Minister might be able to
come to an agreement with the Grand Vizier either that the present system should be con-
tinued or that ether arrangements equally convenient might- be substituted for it, and that
peuding 6uch au agreement tho provisional arrangement should continue in force.”
292. After much pressure Mr. Naus agreed to re-open the customs house
at Ahwaz in November 1902.
It wa9 only in February 1903 that the proposal to re-open a custom house
ibid No. 356 at Shuster was accepted as a provisional
arrangement. The arrangement was made
permanent in April 1903.
• See paragraphs 1C8 aud 169 above.