Page 105 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

3
REVIEW BY THE POLITICAL RESIDENT IN THE PER8IAN GULP*
The Concessionaires have continued their labours with the utmost perseverance
in the face of innumerable difficulties, both petty and serious difficulties arising
primarily from the unbusiness-like methods of the Khans and greatly aggravated
by family dissensions among them culminating in a disingenuous attempt on their
part, supported by the Persian Government, to upset the original agreement come
to with the Concessionaires and to substitute another in terms dictated by the
Central Government, who profess not to recognise the existing document. This
manoeuvre however has hitherto been successfully resisted.
His Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Ahwaz to whom, in the interests of the Syndicate
the tedious negociations with the Khans, were entrusted by His Majesty’s Legation
has had a difficult task in this connection throughout the year, the closer acquain­
tance with the Khans which the events of the last two years have given us, proving
that the thin veneer of western civilisation which they affect supplies but a poor
disguise to characters full of Oriental caprice and unreliability, which make it ex­
tremely difficult to conduct business with them on satisfactory lines or to keep them
up to their admitted obligations. In spite of all obstacles, however, praiseworthy
progress has been made; communications have been provided, plant and workshops
erected and borings commenced. It is therefore to be hoped that success in the
tapping of productive springs of oil will ere long reward their hitherto uphill
labours.
The question of the upkeep of the Lynch Road from Ahwaz to Ispahan has also
been a good deal in evidence. Arrange­
Communications; Ahwaz-Ispahan Road.
ments which will provide for its systematic
maintenance in good order have still to be devised and perfected, the chief impedi­
ment to their institution being the unsatisfactory relations which prevail between
the Khans and Messrs. Lynch. But these are difficulties which will no doubt
adjust themselves gradually, and meanwhile the pressure put upon the Khans
has sufficed to keep the track in a sufficiently passable condition to ensure its remain­
ing an assured artery of traffic.
Owing to the political conditions referred to in the preface, no forward action
has been possible in connection with the
Luristan Roads. !
improvement of communications in Luristan
either in the direction of Khoremabad or through Pusht-i-Kuh. On the other
hand Brevet Major A. \V. Baird, Gordon Highlanders, who travelled from Ahwaz
to Kermanshah by the latter route, reported favourably of the route and of the
friendly attitude of the Wali. Furthermore, the Sardar Mukarram, at present
Governor-General of Arabistan-cuw-Luristan, in a recent interview with the Resi­
dent made it evident that he was both fully alive to the great advantages of
opening up communications through this country, and bent upon doing his utmost
in that direction if left undisturbed in his charge. Nephew, as he is, of the Nizam*
es-Sultaneh, one of the most strenuous and enlightened men in Persia at the
present time, whose influence and interests in Axabistan are well known, and com-
parativelv successful administrator as he has so far proved in this important
province, the Sardar seems to be a person whom it will be good policy on our
part to support.
But the degree to which we shall be able to maintain our present interests in
Arabistan and Luristan in the future, doubtless depends a great deal on the nature
of the Anglo-Russian settlement now under negotiation and the extent to which
its terms will or will not hamper our enterprise in that province. In this con­
nection it may be presumed from the appointment of a Russian Agent at Khorema­
bad and the visit of another to Burujird and the neighbourhood, that the region is
one which does not lack interest for our neighbours. °
Rumours, usually followed by anxious inquiries from the Shaikh of Mahom-
Karan Irrigation Scheme. merah, have been current from time to time
. . during the year, alleging the imminent or
actual grant of a concession, at one moment to the Dutch, at another to the
Government; at another to a Persian Syndicate; rumours which have
never taken shape but which have been so far well founded in that the subject in
undoubtedly attracted a g°°d deal of attention in diplomatic quartern.
ow£ ofourD«goc«atlon8 with Russia any special activity on our
wn part has been considered inexpedient for the present; at the same lime the
vertures which have been made during the year to His Majesty’s Government at
a l