Page 319 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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(iv) A jowaz which was given for Shiraz would not be current at the
custom-houses of Ispahan and Tehran.
(v) A Jowaz would hold good only for six months.
667. The first and last clauses were especially objected to by the British
merchants as innovations not warranted by the treaty. The Consul-General at
Bushirc represented their grievances to the British Legation, with what effect it is
not traceable in the records.
(xcvii) Transfer of Bushire Customs to the Imperial Bank of Persia, 1898.
668. In April 1898 orders issued by the Persian Government for the trans­
fer of the Bushire customs to the Imperial
Secret E.( September 1898, N01. I44’3ia.
Secret E., November 1898, Nos. 158*59- Bank of Persia, who had given a loan of
Secret E., November 189:% Nos. 355-7* • £ 50,000 to the Government on the con­
Administration Report, 1898-99.
dition that they should be given the
management of the customs at Bushire and Kermanshah. This gave rise to
much excitement amongst certain interested parties, as it was declared that an
uniform rate of 5 per cent, would be levied in future and the Persian merchants
feared that they would suffer by the increase of the duty at Bushire without at
the same time exempting them from payment of the additional duties elsewhere,
as were foreigners. It was also understood that food-stuffs would be taxed and
strenuous efforts were made to oppose the bank, the mullahs being induced to
declare that the arrangement was contrary to their religion. To prevent any
outbreak at the custom-house, the Residency steam-launch with a crew
of blue-jackets from H. M. S. Sphinx was anchored off the custom-house,
in case it became necessary to protect the property of British firms collected
there. The presence of this party probably prevented a serious riot from occur­
ring and the bank gradually took up the functions of managing the customs.
The Persian Government withdrew its order insisting on the 5 per cent, duty
being levied on goods of native merchants. This concession having been
made the bank proceeded with the management of the customs. Their rule
was popular and would have been more so as time went on. Unfortunately the
loan had been given for a few months and when the period expired in August the
money was forthcoming, having been supplied by Russia, who was not pleased
to see a British institution, like the bank, obtaining the prestige, which the control
of the customs gave.