Page 145 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR^ 1906-1907. 41
On the day following a member of the people’s party was passing the house of
the Rais-ul-ulcma and was received with hoots and it is said stones. He rushed
into the square shouting that the others had been trying to kill him. The people in
the maidan turned out in some force and rushed for the Kais-ul-ulema’s house
where they were met with volleys from the guns of the inmates. I am of opinion
that the men above-named who were “ wanted ” were in the house and the residents
thereof thought that the people were coming with the intention of seizing them.
■
In the riot that ensued four of the people’s party were killed and a few wounded.
The Governor was dismissed for his want of control, and so ended the Persian
year.
Political.—In October the Russian Consul appointed Agents at Kasr-i-shirin
and at Khurramabad in Luristan. These are appointments, I fancy, more in the
nature of news agencies than anything else.
Shortly after a trader, the Wakii-ut-tujar, of Senna, was appointed Russian
Agent at that place.
After the downfall of Ismail Bakir in the bank, of which mention will be
found, the acting Russian Consul approached him with an offer to supply him with
Russian piecegoods for his stores on two years’ credit. Bakir did not accept
the offer as he desires to import English goods where it is possible.
Customs.—M. 'Waffelaert, the Director General oi Customs, received the Russian
Order of St. Anne of the 2nd Class. He stated that this was for the assistance
which he gave to Prince An a to uni at Bushire.
At the beginning of 1907. M. Waffelaert seized certain goods belonging to a
British subject, a Jew, Shawal Levi by name. These goods were on their way
to Pusht-i-kuh in Persian territory : since there is no custom station beyond Kerman-
shab in that direction M. Wafielaen maintained that these goods were being
smuggled across the frontier. I pointed out that, though it was true that certain
goods, ns., a jewelled sword, half a pound oi shot and the food of the muleteers
had not been declared to the customs, it was absurd to say that it was intended to
smuggle such a ridiculously small quantity oi goods across the frontier winch lay
a considerable distance beyond Pusht-i-kuh. !
The food belonging to the muleteers should have been declared according : I
to rule, but this rule has been honoured m the breach. M. Waffelaert, however,
persisted in seizing two mules which he agreed to release on payment of Tomans
100. The punishment was out of all proportion to the technical offence, and so the i
case was referred to the Central Administration at Tehran, whence after enquiry
Shawal Leri was ordered to pay a fine of 10 Tomans.
Throughout the case I maintained and still maintain that the Reglement
Legal could not be made to apply since that code applies to import and export
only, and cannot be made to refer to carriage in the interior of Persia. This point
is still under reference.
M. Waffelaert was most pig-headed, I might say discourteous, throughout
the case ; he refused to release the mules which he had seized even on my
personal security that I would be lesponsible for the recovery of any fine inflicted
by the administration at Tehran. He was however ordered to release the mules
directly the case was referred to Tehran.
There was little doubt he was swayed by Baron Staudacli, a Persian
subject of Austrian origin, a member of the Customs Department and a Mussulman,
who had a grudge against both the owner of the mules and their lessee.
Posts.—At the beginning of the year the Governor asked that the posts
should be taken out of the bands of the Customs Department and placed in the !
hands of the Persian as the pensions were paid very irregularly. Captain Gough
notes that the postal department could not be worse, organised than it was at the
time and a change' could not be for the worse. I may note that this change has
since been effected.
In December last M. Waffelaert. under orders from bis administration demand­
ed double tax on all letters bearing Sendee stamps. As I had received no notice
and was unaware of the legality of the demand I did not take delivery of such
letters and referred the case to the Legation. It was finally ordered that letters
bearing such stamps should be delivered free pending the Government of India
being warned that the use of such stamps should be discontinued for Persia.
3147 F. D.
Ql