Page 188 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

4 REVIEW DY THE POLITICAL RESIDENT IN TIIE PERSIAN GULF.
demoralising and disastrous around them. In spite of this fact however neither
the Sheikhs nor the Khans have been free from an abiding anxiety as' to tli
probable future in store for them under a democratic government. C
They fear, and perhaps with good reason, that the first inclination of such a
government, once firmly established, will be to exploit them and deprive them of
their tribal privileges and the considerable measure of internal autonomy which
they now enjoy. The presence of this fear has made the Sheikh of Mol 3
. . lammcrah
and the Bakhiiyari Khans disposed both to sink their own chronic differences and
. .
.
,
make common cause, and also to endeavour to draw nearer to the British in
the hope of obtaining advice and renewed assurances of sympathy and support
The Sheikh of Mohammerah moreover, apart from the anxiety above indicat­
ed, became not a little alarmed towards the end of the year by ominous rumours
of activity on the part of the military authorities at Baghdad, in connection with
the Turco-Persian frontier dispute, and at an interview with the Resident in
January he begged that the attention of the British Government might be drawn
to the isolated and dangerous position which he, with a large extent of frontier
to guard, now occupied and to the persistent apathy with which the Persian Gov­
ernment regarded the question. In reply he received assurances through His
Majesty’s Legation which quieted his fears for the time and acuteness of the
situation to which his alarm had been due, subsequently subsided.
During the latter part of the year under report the attitude of the Bakhtiyari
n-io.. Khans in connection with the affairs of
Messrs. Lynch Brothers and the D'Arcy
Oil Syndicate has immensely improved. In the earlier months the operations of
the Syndicate were so much hampered and their staff and workmen subjected to
such constant risks and annoyances that it was feared that if the striking of oil
in payable quantities were to be much longer delayed the Syndicate would throw
up the sponge or their employes would decline to continue serving under such
trying conditions. Thanks however to the interest taken in the enterprise by
His Majesty’s Government a special guard of Indian troops, consisting of 20
men and two British officers, was despatched in December 1907 to the scene,
for the protection of the C3mps and working parties, and for the rest, the
resolute perseverance of His Majesty’s Vice-Consul and the unfailing support
afforded him by His Majesty’s Legation have at last made the Khans see the
expediency ot adopting a much move tractable attitude. As regards the prospects
of the Syndicate it wiii be seen that up to the time of despatch of Captain
Lorimer's report tho outlook remained uniformly discouraging, but just afterwards
the whole aspect of the operations was charged by the striking of a vigorous
spring of good quality oil at the Maidan-i-Munaftun boring, and it is hoped that
this strong fillip will encourage the plucky promoters of the enterprise to push it
with renewed vigour. Whr.t the existence of a profitable petroleum industry
near the Karun means to the future of Arabistan, needs no demonstration.
This review would be incomplete without como reference to the all-important
question of the arms traffic from Maskat
Mckran* through Mekran, but the subject be:ng
fully dealt with in a separate memorandum needs but passing mention here. In
spite of great expense in coal, and wear and tear ot ships, and the utmost co­
operation of the Telegraph Department on the Persian shore, our efforts have faned
to make any serious impression on the traffic, which is yearly increasing. At the
present moment the results of the Brussels Conference now about to sit, are
awaited before any fresh line of policy in regard thereto can be devised.

While on the subject of the Mekran ports I may mcniion that in the winter 0
1907-190S the Baluch Khans rose against the Belgian Customs Administration
and expelled all their representatives from the Mekran ports and it was only a ter
a long sojourn and much diplomacy on the part of the Derya Begi that ey
were persuaded or bribed to restore the control to the administration. ^
tm.e owing to the forcible levy of duly by these frec-booter Mirs, from 1,1 -t
subjects, the position on the Mekran Coast waxed somewhat «J,:ca »