Page 279 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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to the Persian Government that in case of claims arising from British subjects
against Persians, a Mixed Court of Merchants, partly chosen by the local authori­
ties and partly by the Resident, should be convened, that the Local Government
should assist in enforcing the Court’s decisions, that appeals from them should
be allowed to the Court at Tehran only if the Local Governor saw that the
application was well founded when Mr. Ronald Thomson to His Excellency
Mirza Saced Khan, dated 22nd September 1881.)
474-K. Orders were issued by the Persian Government to Zil-cs-Sultan
with a view to " forming such tribunals
Ibid, Noj. Cj.
for the immediate settlement and carrying
out such matters.”
475. Again we find in 1883 the Resident (Colonel Ross) complaining of
outstanding claims in three important cases and dilatory and evasive methods
pursued by the Persian authorities (Resident’s No. 11, dated 22nd January
1883, to Mr. R. Thomson).
475*A. In the first case, Messrs. Muir and Co. versus Muhammad Riza Waris.
It seemed clear that the Shiraz authorities, so far from endeavouring to obtain
an equitable settlement of the claim, were only desirous of assisting the debtor
to evade, as much as possible, the payment of his just debt.
476. In the second case, Messrs. D. Sassoon & Co. versus estate of late
Hajee Saiyid Muhammad Baker Jenab, it will be seen that six months elapsed
while the case was bandied about between Shiraz and Ispahan without any
result.
477. The third claim, that of Banamull versus Saiyid Muhammad Baker, was
for a lesser amount. In it the British Agent was put off with promises of an
arrangement for six months, and was then informed that the debtor is a pauper
and has escaped.

Memorandim of the above three cases.
1.—Messrs. Muir & Co. versus Muhammad Reza Waris.

478. A claim for Krans 20,146-10 was preferred in August 1881 by Messrs.
Muir and Co. versus Muhammad Reza Waris, the Bushire Agent of Haji
Muhammad Mohsin. Of this claim, Krans 7,913*50 were recovered by the late
Governor of Bushire, who then allowed the debtor to leave Bushire and go up
to Ispahan to recover certain claims he had against his principal Haji Muhammad
Mohsin. The late Governor declared he had communicated details of the claim
to His Royal Highness the Zil-es-Sultan, so that when the settlement between
Haji Muhammad Mohsin and Muhammad Reza Waris took place, Messrs. Muir
and Co.’s claim could also be arranged for.
479. As no result ensued, the Resident forwarded, in June 1882, a copy of the
correspondence on the subject of the claim to Her Majesty’s Minister in Tehran,
with a suggestion that a representation of the matter to the Ispahan authorities
might succeed in recovering the balance due.
480. Her Majesty’s Minister replied, July 29th, that His Royal Highness
the Zil-es-Sultan had informed him that the debtor had left Ispahan, but that he
had sent an order to the Sahib Dewan to have the claim settled in Shiraz. Her
Majesty’s Minister further stated that he had sent full instructions to the British
Agent, Shiraz, together with a copy of His Royal Highness the Zil-es-Sultan’s
order.
480-A. To this the British Agent, Shiraz, replied, 18th August 1882, that the
Sahib Dewan had summoned Muhammad Reza Waris, who declared he had paid
Tomans.1,000 to Messrs. Muir and Co., and Tomans 500 to the late Governor
of Bushire, Mustowfi Nizam. The Sahib Dewan therefore said that as Tomans
500 had been paid to the Bushire Governor, the matter was difficult and the