Page 153 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1906-1907. 46

The firet ship of the Hamburg-American Line to visit the port was the Ccunadia
Germany'■ project.. ";hlc> arrived on the 23rd August Bince when
the Company a ships have called from time
to time on the outward voyage. Previous to the arrival of the Canadia,
Mr. Listemann, the German Consul at Bushire, visited the town and appointed
a native as local agent. The latter has secured an office in an advantageous
position on the sea-front, but hitherto the German ships have brought very I
little cargo and it has not been worth their while to call on the homeward
voyage. Local merchants have been the recipients of sundry letters from the
Deutsche-Orient Bank of Hamburg, offering its services in connection with their
trading transactions with Northern Europe. There have also from time to time "
been unconfirmed rumours that a German Bank intends to establish a branch in
the town, but no move of a political nature on the part of Germany has been
apparent and the advent of the mercantile ships has been viewed with indiffer­ {
ence by local merchants.
Customs Administration.—The local administration was in the charge of M.
Stas up to the beginning of December and his strict interpretation of the
Reglement Douanier and generally unbending attitude, produced many
deadlocks with the local merchants and was the cause of constant friction.
M. Stas was succeeded by M. Anton Wagner from Mohamnvcrab, who since
his arrival has by his conciliatory and unbiassed attitude, done much to reconcile
the people to the presence of the Belgian administration. His evident desire
to preserve good relations with the Consulate, has resulted in amicable
settlements being arrived at in many cases in which a strict interpretation
of the Reglement would have led to protracted proceedings and profitless results.
The Hamal Bashi system continues to be made a source oi grievance by the
local trading community and is without doubt very detrimental to trade. Owing
largely however to the petty jealousies existing between the different merchants
united action on their part with the object of effecting reforms in the system, is not
to be looked for. The principal cause of complaint is that the Sees exacted by the
Hamal Bashi for the removal and care of goods from the time they reach the pier
until they are delivered to the consignees, are excessive in the extreme, and it is con­
tended that a reduction of these fees by fully |rds would still provide a handsome i
margin of profit for the Hamal Bashi. The employment by the Customs author­
ities" of the Hamal Bashi upon preventive and other duties foreign to his office, is
also the subject of much adverse comment, seeing that he is supposed to be the
servant of the merchants and not of the Customs-House.
Arms Traffic.—It was thought that with the 3mval of the new Customs
S.S. Tcherani, a final blow had been given to any possible smuggling of arms in the
Bunder Abbas-Lingah district, but this has been Icir from being the case and the
closing months of the year witnessed several daring smuggling feats on the Clarence
Straits, in the neighbourhood of Gatchin close to the Bunder Abbas-Fars border.
These arms were all destined for the Deputy Governor of Lar, Haji Ali Kuli Khan,
and their safe convoy inland was systematically carried out, a large armed force in
each case accompanying them and openly defiring the ten or twelve tufangchis
which the Customs authorities were able to pit against them. The Deputy
Governor of Lar has held his post for some years and is said to have acquired
power sufficient to enable him to defy the Fars> authorities. In these circumstances
it is not surprising that the representations made by the Customs Administration
against his lawless acts have hitherto proved fruitless.
From uncertain information received from time to time by His Majesty’s
Consul, it would seem that there has been no diminution in the number of rifles
smuggled ashore on the coast of Mekran, and in spite of the presence of His
Majesty’s ships of war, it is said the arms smugglers have M a prosperous
season.
Telegraph.—Through telegraphic connection with Hen jam was established at
the end of 1905, hut the building of a telegraph office acd the opening of the line to
the public, has remained in abeyance throughout the year, owing in the first place
to the obstinate obstruction of M. Stas, instigated by the Russian Consul and
subsequently to the neglect of the Persian Government to come to an understand-
ln the matter. The Persian guard has remained stationed at the end of the
cable and the Russian Consul’s continued interest in the matter has been
3147 F. D.
a