Page 331 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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be reduced. Sir A. Hardinge recommended that should the Government of India
be able to give some elasticity to this Regulation, they should grant a relaxation
of it in this case to the Persian Government, as to a neighbouring state, who
might by some such means be encouraged to place in the same quarter any
further orders that she might have in the future and thus to look to us primarily
for assistance in connection with the development of its resources in the Persian
Gulf (Sir A. Hardinge to the Government of India, dated 3rd September 1904).
717. The Government of India informed Sir A. Hardinge on 25th December
1904 that it was hoped that the five launches would be ready about October
and December 1905, and January, March and April 19U6, respectively.
71*8. The question about the*proposed remission of 25 per cent, was left
unanswered (see notes in Secret E., February 1905, Nos. i539*»545)-
(cviii) Discontinuance of the Rahdari and other illegal taxes, 1905.
719. Various petty taxes used to be levied under various names—Rahdari,
Dalali (brokerage), Kapandari (weighing
Secret E., June 1905, Nos. 4*14*
Secret E-, October 1905, No<. 506*307. fees), etc., on foreign caravan goods at
Secret E., December 1905, Nos. 42-43.
Daliki on the Bushire-Shiraz road, at
Godar Balutak on the Ahwaz-Ispahan road, and elsewhere, which were in violation
of the Anglo-Persian Agreement of 1903 and the Rfcglement Douanier. His
Highness Prince Shoa-es-Sultaneh, Governor-General of Fars, was mainly instru­
mental in maintaining these taxes.
720. Representations were made at Tehran by the British and Russian
Ministers, and ultimately, it was reported, the Rahdari tax was discontinued
with effect from the afternoon of the 5th October 1905.
(cix) Belgian Customs officials in the Persian Gulf.
721. The following Belgian gentlemen have held the post of Director-
Generals of Southern Customs:—
flons. Simais.
Mons. Dambrain—proceeded on furlough in May 1904.
Mons. E. Waffalaert—transferred from Mohammerahin May 1904. He
was transferred to Kermanshah in February 1905.
Mons. Heynssens, February 1905—transferred from the Caspian Division.
722. The Belgian Directors wield immense power in the Persian Gulf and
are treated with great respect by the
Secret E., September 1904, No. 55.
Persian authorities. For instance, when
Mons. Dambrain arrived at Lingah in April 1904, a salute of seven guns was
fired from the Government House, and he was accorded other honors due to a
Persian Governor.
723. Even a good Governor like the Darya Begi appears to be completely
under the control of the Belgian Director
Secret E., July 1905, Noa. 392-393.
of Customs, who under recent orders
disburses his pay.
724. Mons. Waffalaert, an aggressive enthusiast, was reported in November
1905, to have received a Russian decora­
Secret E., December 1905, No. 458.
tion, and transferred from Kermanshah to
Mohammerah as Director of Customs for Arabistan in place of Mons. Dambrain,
who was a friendly and easy going official, and worried into retirement.
725. It appears that M. Heynssens is
Secret B., April 1905, No. 124.
believed to be a troublesome official.
726. It may be mentioned that Mons. Lavers, Secretary General of the
Customs Department, who acted during
Ibid.
Mons. Naus’ absence, was reported in
February 1904 to have received the Russian decoration of St. Stanislaus.