Page 146 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

42
ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN
QULF

atecond that night. I sent for the Manager of the Bank. Mr. Milligan who was
KhanB r b th* ev?den?e “d accordingly got the man, by name Wia Ismail
Sran aSo!^ “ * *** a **** BUbjeCt’ handed him — to the

His arrest caused a great sensation in Kermanshah for he was one of the most
influential men m the place and the owner of the English stores. Until the age of
15 years he was educated in England and afterwards in the American school at
Beyrout. The cause of Balrir’s downfall was being overtrusted, with the result
that he was not sufficiently supervised. His signature had been sufficient for
receipts and he had introduced most of the applicants for loans. The result was that
he had issued various loans to himself in the names of other people and also had
intercepted various payments into the bank.
It is expected that in time be will be able to make good his defalcations, but
his regime (for he was practically Manager at anv rate during the incumbency
of the previous Manager of the bank) has been most disastrous ; loans issued during
his time have in very many cases quite insufficient security.
Since I have been in Kennanshah I have spent a very considerable time over
bank cases. Owing to the disturbed state of the country combined with the change
of Governors, it- has been difficult to bring continued pressure with anv useful
result.
The Manager of the bank and his Accountant unfortunately quarrelled. An
Inspector. Mr. Messervy, was sent down in November to enquire into matters and to
put things on a proper footing, and has had a difficult time.
Trade.—Notwithstanding that during part of the year the country was upset,
trade improved considerably.
The Customs returns show an increase of £268,662 in imports and an increase of
£123.57 *1 va. exports. In the former the United Kingdom is responsible for an
increase of £217.896 and India for an increase of £11,407. The returns for Keiman-
.sbah require to be read in conjunction with those for Resht to understand the
fiucuaati*QB£. It has previously been explained by Consuls that but a very small
percentage’ of the amounts shown in the Customs returns of this place arc for local
con5Ji£aprioo. The greater part goes to the interior of Persia and to Hamadan,
whence it is distributed to the various larger towns of the district. This tract
of country is also supplied from Resht. For instance the steady decrease under
the heading ““Tea from India” must be explained by a corresponding increase
at some other point of entry into Persia and lam inclined to think that a study of
the returns for Resht this year will very probably explain this decrease of over
£14,000 in the last four years. It is at any rate certain that no decrease in tea
ririnlrTncr ran be brought forward to explain it.
Appointments and Transfees.
British.—^Captain Beauchamp Williams, LM.S., Consular Surgeon for At,abj^tan
and Kermanshah, was transferred to Bushire and left Kermanshah on the 22nd
April 1906. Captain Crossle, his successor, arrived on the 3rd August 1906.
Captain H. A. K. Gough, His Britannic Majesty's Consul, Kermanshah,
proceeded on combined furlough and privilege leave on the 10fcllA“^ ^
Captain tt. Crossle, I.M.S., officiating until the arrival of Captain L. B. H. Haworth,
I At> who took charge on the afternoon of the 11th October 1906.
Russian.—M. Nicolski was the Russian Consul, his Secretary, M. Pctroff,
arrived on the 25th April 1906. M. Nicolski went on six months leave on the 12th
October 1906, M. Petroff officiating in his absence. ...
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