Page 315 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

17i
had informed His Majesty in reply that he had instructed the Superintendent of
Customs to carry out the above orders without further delay.
643.. On the following day copies of the
To Colonel Ron, dated a8th June 1884, No. 23.
orders in question were sent to Colonel
Ross as given below in translation
“With reference to the Bushirc gate and landing dues, concerning which the Shah and
From Foreign Minuter (to Prince Governor of myself, acting under His Majesty’s orders, have
Fan), dated 23rd June 1F84. already telegraphed to you and received replies,
I have to state that a further communication has been received from the British Legation
to the effect that, in view of the telegraphs to Your Royal Highness from the Shah and the
Prime Minister, it is a matter of astonishment that yet another telegram should have
arrived from the Residency at Bushirc, stating that no steps have been taken in the matter
and that things remain in their previous unsatisfactory condition. Her Britannic Majesty's
Minister urgently requests that a telegram from the Shah should be sent at once to the
Sahib-i-Diwan (Deputy Governor of the Province) dealing with all the question at issue
and prohibiting—
“ 1st.—The levy of duties in excess of the legal 5 per cent.
“ and.—The levy of gate and landing dues and of the tax upon the muleteers.
“ 3rd.—The lew of money from the carriers of goods belonging to British merchants,
the character of whose employment is demonstrated by a road bill legalized at the
Residency.
“ Her Britannic Majesty’s Minister moreover asks that, as there is at present no
Governor at Bushire, the Persian Foreign Office Agent at that port should communicate
with Her Britannic Majesty’s Resident in respect to the orders received from Tehran.
“ The Shah now instructs me to convey to Your Royal Highness His Majesty's orders,
that, without further delay, you should telegraph to the Sahib-i-Diwan to carry out precisely
whatever is required by the above-quoted letter from the British Minister. His Majesty
adds that you should at once send to Bushire the person you intend to appoint as Governor.
Bushire is not a place to be left to a Deputy Governor, and at present the affairs of that
place arc not even conducted by an official of that rank. You will certainly at once
send a Governor there.
“ When this affair is settled, the British Legation is satisfied there will be ample time
for the questions in dispute between the Amin-rs-Sultan (Farmer General of the Customs)
and the Sahib Diwan as to the Government claims on the gate-money, landing dues and
other items of account.
“The Shah says that it is most improper that, after he has given a precise promise
to the British Legation, you should fail to carryout what he has promised. His orders are
explicit, they must immediately be obeyed, and the Foreign Office Agent or the Sahib
Dewan must be instructed to communicate this telegram to the British Resident. The
Sahib's determination is that whatever the Government officials have taken from British
merchants in Bushire, Dillom, and Rig (in excess of the legal 5 percent.) shall be returned
without further discussion and immediately, and that henceforward not one farthing shall be
so taken from them.
“The Sahib Diwan’s disputes with the Amin-es-Sultan are matters concerning the
internal administration, and shall be duly looked upon.”
644. In his letter No. 81, dated 8th August 1884, Colonel Ross reported
the refund by the Persian authorities of the
External A.. September 18S4, Nos. 154-62.
excess duties levied.
645. Notwithstanding the above-mentioned orders from Tehran, we find
excess duties levied on exports from Ban­
External A., April 1887. Noj. 41-43.
dar Mashur, Rig and Dilam. Amin-es-
Sultan, who had obtained control of the customs in Persia, contended in favour
of these duties as legal on the following grounds :—
1st.—That the British merchants should restrict themselves to using the
ports of Bandar Abbas and Bushire.
2nd.—That according to treaty goods moved by merchants from one place
to another in Persia were liable to certain taxes in addition to the
5 per cent. tax.
3rd.—That the officials at Mohammerah, Bandar Rig and Dilam were un­
provided with proper printed forms of Tawazes with the Lion and
the Sun and that their manuscript passes could not be accepted at
other custom-houses.