Page 120 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

IS ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIaN GULF

The latter part of his administration had been marked by a recrudescence of
road robberies, due—as His Excellency asserted—to the machinations of his enemies
In the town efforts at the election of representatives for the National Assembly in
Tehran were being fitfully made. Rumours of the Shah’s precarious condition,
at times of his demise, became more persistent. Reports of disturbances in Teh ran,
Tabriz, and other large towns were rife.
It was reasonably expected that the removal of the strong hand of Ala-ul-
Dowleh would be followed by a period of unrest. The events belied this forecast.
In the interregnum of three months which intervened between the departure of Ala-
ul-Dowlch and the appointment of Prince Moayyid-ul-Dowleh Shiraz had no
history. The administration of the Prince, confided to the joint care, at first, of
Salar-ul-Sultan (elder son of Kowam-ul-Mulk), Beglerbegi (Lord Mayor) of Shiraz,
and Khabir-ul-Dowleh, Superintendent of the Persian Telegraph Office, subse­
quently, to the former in conjunction with his younger brother, Nasr-ul-Dowleh,
was carried on satisfactorily.
A greater degree of security was maintained on the road, though the exactions
of the road-guards on the Bushire road continued and furnished cause for numerous
complaints.
The death of the Shah which occurred on the 8th January gave rise to none of
those evil after-effects which had been confidently predicted. The sinister shadow
which this event had cast before it vanished with the event itself. Others however
darkened the prospect. The alleged hostility of Mahomed Ali Shah to a constitu­
tional regime and the apprehensions of the National Assembly gave rise in Tehran
to a tension which found its counterpart in Shiraz as in other leading towns of
Persia. New elements tending to discord had appeared in Shiraz. The establish­
ment of a local assembly (Majlis-i-Milli) was shortly afterwards followed by that
of a body styled Anjuman-i-Islam (the Moslem League) largely composed of
turbulent “ tullab.” Efforts to elect representatives from Fars for the Natiasal
Assembly at Tehran continued without any definite result.
About the 11th February the news of the appointment of Prince MosyruJ-ni-
Dowleh as Governor-General of Fars, with Kowam-ul-Mulk as Vazier. became
publicly known in Shiraz. The latter who jointly with his kinsman Nasir-ui!-Mulk
had been detained in Tehran since the autumn of 1905, by the Persian Government
at the instigation of Prince Shuaa’ul-Sultaneh reached Shiraz -on 1st March, and
was received with a popular ovation. Shortly after his return his younger son
Nasr-ul-Dowleh was appointed “ Reis-i-Qoushoun ” of Fars. Hite Kowam-ul-
Mulk’s party seemed to be firmly established in power, and it was obvious that
Moayyid-ul-Dowleh was destined to be a mere figure-head, while Kowam-ul-Mulk
would continue to be the “ uncrowned king ’ ’ of Fars. There were however rumours
of widespread discontent throughout the province. The Kowam-ol-MuIk was
known to have paid a very large sum (according to reliable report T&. 1,00,000) for
his release from Tehran. It was naturally presumed that he would endeavour
to recoup himself out of the province. It was commonly believed that he had
entered into an agreement with the Shah to use all his influence to quash the
constitutional movement in Fars.
A little local newspaper, the Nida-i-Islam, ’ * the first number of which appea­
red on the 11th of March 1907, and the continuous distribution of inflammatory
appeals, purporting to come from Tabriz and Tehran, to the -patriotism of e
Shirazis helped to fan the embers of discord in the town. Exaggerated rumours
promoted unrest throughout the outlying districts. Dissensions among tfoe KaangaJ
chiefs, and the rancour of his brothers towards Soulat-ul-Dowldh, the. Ektoani.
portended trouble in the tribe.
The outlook at the end of March was dark, and it was predicted that. the &****■
of the new Governor-General, who was expected to reach Shiraz early m P""*
would be the signal for an eruption of the long smouldering disaffection.
COMMERCE.
No statistics are available at Shiraz, but reports furnished by
and merchants tend to show that trade, in spite of adverse
whole fully up to the average. Exports would appear to haire bwn ^ 7^
the average, dried fruits and gum being exported in larger quantities tha